SRINAGAR: The New Kashmir Fruit Association, Parimpora, has urged the administration to address key issues affecting the Fruit Mandi’s development, including land allotment for a truck terminal and garbage disposal, and financial support for completion of the CA/Cold Storage project.
During a meeting with Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Bashir Ahmad Basheer, President of the Association, highlighted that traders had already invested over ₹12 crore in constructing a Controlled Atmosphere (CA)/Cold Store on government-allotted land but were unable to operationalize it due to delays in term loan approval from financial institutions. He requested the DC’s intervention to facilitate J&K Bank’s approval of the loan, enabling completion of the long-pending project.
Basheer also pressed for early allotment of land for a truck terminal, which he said was vital for smooth transport and logistics operations, and sought designated land for garbage accumulation to maintain hygiene within the Mandi. Other demands included installation of floodlights and dustbins across the premises to improve working conditions for traders and laborers.
Responding to the concerns, DC Srinagar assured the Association of administrative support and informed that several issues were already under consideration. He said that a site for the truck terminal has been identified and would be made available after levelling, while the garbage disposal issue had been resolved with the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC), which will facilitate waste dumping at Achan.
Regarding the CA/Cold Store project, the DC said a proposal has been forwarded to the concerned department and requested that a copy be endorsed to his office for onward submission to the government for financial facilitation.
The DC further directed the Urban Environmental Engineering Department (UEED) and Srinagar Development Authority (SDA) to continue road and infrastructure improvements in and around the Mandi. He also asked the Joint Commissioner, SMC, to address the floodlight and dustbin installation requests at the earliest.
The meeting concluded with the Association expressing appreciation for the administration’s responsiveness and assurances of continued coordination to resolve pending issues affecting the Fruit Mandi Parimpora.
