Srinagar: The New Kashmir Fruit Association Fruit Marketing Complex Parimpora Srinagar who are Fruit Growers/ Dealers are extremely worried on banning of civil traffic Srinagar-Jammu Highway (Qazigund to Nashri stretch) for five hours in a day in view of Annual Amarnath Yatra.
The members of the association as per a statement issued to KNO said that in fact the present fruit season is already severely hit by natural disaster with frequent hailstorm, stormy winds and strong rains since last three months followed by constant closure of Srinagar-Jammu highway due to one or the other reasons with the result the Valley based fruit growers and dealers particularly, the members of the Association have suffered about 90% losses of their produce and the situation thereof has repeatedly been brought to the notice of all concerned authorities of the Governor’s
Administration, even the Fruit Mandi Parimpora which Mandi is treated one of the largest Mandi after Delhi and remains functional round the year had been closed in protest for two days.
“Now at the time of harvesting the fresh Fruit crop whatever is saved particularly cherry and Plum is on risk which crop is treated most perishable items and needs to be transported to its destination outside state on war footing basis in view of banning once again civil traffic for five hours daily in a day on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway in view of annual Amarnath Yatra,” the statement added.
The members are desirous for success of annual Amarnath Yatra and welcome the Yatris as well but at the same time the banning for civil traffic on Srinagar-Jammu highway for five hours in a day daily will cause extreme hardships for transportation of fresh Fruits outside state particularly Cherry, Plum, Santro’s which are treated one of the most perishable items and in case if these perishable items will not reach its destinations well in time the Fruit Growers/ Dealers will have to face huge additional losses.
The Management of The New Kashmir Fruit Association urged the Governor’s Administration to consider revocation of the orders forthwith banning civil traffic for five hours in a day on Srinagar-Jammu highway instead allow the plying of fresh Fruit loaded trucks even against the Amarnath Yatra so that members will not face further losses.
