Fruit Mandi Parimpora to suspend strike from today

Srinagar: In view of the decision of Government machinery and forthcoming month of Ramadhan, the New Kashmir Fruit Association Srinagar have resolved to suspended the strike from 01-05-2019 (Wednesday).
The association as per a statement issued on Tuesday said, “Since the month of January 2019 the Fresh Fruits/ Vegetables laden trucks arrive from different parts of the country are frequently and deliberately were stopped on different spots on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway for weeks together particularly at Udhmapur Nakka.
Similarly the Apple loaded trucks from various CA/Cold Stores of the Valley were also stopped in the way for days together at Qazigund and other various Naka’s at Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.”
They said this unjustified practice at the hands of Governor Machinery resulted losses of thousand Crores of rupees to Fruit/Vegetable Growers/Dealers of the Valley. The statement reads the Horticulture Industry is treated as Backbone of the State’s Economy and more than seven lakh families are directly or indirectly connected with Fruit Industry and their livelihood is exclusively on this Industry.
As per report of Horticulture Planning and Marketing there are six lakhs to seven lakhs Apple boxes pending in various CA/Cold Stores of the Valley for its transportation to various Mandi’s of the country, statement added.
In view of continued one way traffic and ban of civil traffic for two days in a week on Srinagar-Jammu National highway the cost price of one Apple box stored in Various CA Stores of Valley slashed down from Rs. 300/- to Rs. 500/- per box causing heavy losses to the Fruit Growers whose Apple Crop is under process of transportation from Valley to different Mandi’s of the Country, it reads.
Similarly, the fresh Fruits/Vegetable arriving from outside the Country which are often deliberately stopped on Various Naka’s of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway particular at Udhampur for weeks together gets entirely damaged and on their arrival to this Mandi the entire Fruit/Vegetable are found completely rotten and are therefore thrown away in dustbins causing additional losses of thousand Crores of rupees to Valley Based Fruit Growers/Dealers, the association said.
Though this matter regarding deliberate attempt of stoppage of Fruit/Vegetable loaded trucks to and fro on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway is brought to the notice of the Governor machinery but suitable timely action is not taken by the concern authorities by the Government the Management of this Association given indefinite Strike call w.e.f. 29-04-2019 banning all sort of Trade/Business in the Fruit Marketing Complex Parimpora Srinagar which was in letter and split fully supported by Fruit Mandi Anantnag, Vegetable Mandi Ishajipora, Fruit Mandi Sopore, Trade union Parimpora, Kashmir Economic Alliance, Shahre-khass Traders and Batamallo Coordination Committee and others as well, it said.
The Management of this Association are highly thankful of their support to the strike call given by the Management of this Association banning all sort of business in Fruit Marketing complex Parimpora w.e.f 29-04-2019. This Association is also highly thankful of print, electronic media and social media who have fully cooperated with us during the struggle of this strike.
Meanwhile, the Government machinery took notice of the strike call of this Association various serious and held series of meetings and one of the important meeting which was held under the chairmanship of Inspector General of Police traffic J&K Jammu when among others high level of officers from administrative side were also present and it was resolved that henceforth none of the fresh Fruit/Vegetable laden trucks will be stopped on any Naka of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and similarly the Apple loaded trucks meant for various Mandi’s of the country will be allowed to move forward on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway without any interruption so that these Apple loaded trucks could reach to their respective destinations in safe position.
These decisions taken in the meeting held by IGP traffic J&K Jammu has been conveyed to all concerned authorities a copy of which has also been received in the office of this Association as well.
Since the month of Ramadhan is falling now within next 3-4 days the Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Commissioner Secretary Horticulture, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Director Food and Supplies Kashmir, Kashmir Civil Societies and other Trade Unions have therefore applied for suspension of strike call so that fresh Fruits/Vegetables could remain available in sufficient quantity in the markets against reasonable prices and the general public will not face any inconvenience therefore.
In this connection, an emergent meeting of the members of this association was held Tuesday under the leadership of Bashir Ahmad Basher President of this Association wherein all Fruit Growers/Dealers and kharidaran as well have participated and after threadbare discussions on the appeal of various trade unions of the Valley in view of the decision of the Government machinery and forthcoming of month of Ramadhan, the New Kashmir Fruit Association Srinagar have resolved to suspended the strike w.e.f 01-05-2019 (Wednesday).
“Since Kashmiri people are already facing hardships and we do not therefore like to add more inconvenience to the general public and therefore suspend the strike with expectations that the Government will fully implement on ground the decision taken by the IGP traffic J&K Jammu in its meeting held on 24-04-2019,” association said.