Row as Govt cancels shop allotment notification at Fruit Mandi Prichoo after 15 years
Pulwama: Resentment is brewing among the fruit growers against the government after it cancelled the notification of shop allotment at Fruit Mandi Prichoo issued 15 years ago.
Over 200 applicants had applied for shop sites at Fruit Mandi Prichoo Pulwama 15 years ago. However, the government’s move to cancel the notification has left them aghast.
“The notification was issued in 2007 and the government sought applications from fruit growers to apply for shops,” a fruit grower said who had applied for the shop site at the Mandi.
They said over 200 growers applied and submitted all required documents to the concerned authorities.
“We paid Rs 20000 at the time of application and were asked to pay Rs 60000 more at the time of allotment of shops,” the fruit grower said.
They said that since then no allotment was made despite repeated requests made to the horticulture planning and marketing department.
“Now we were informed that the notification issued in 2007 has been cancelled and our payment will be credited to our accounts,” the fruit growers said.
One of the fruit growers said if the government had plans to cancel the notification they should have done it at the initial stage without keeping the growers waiting.
“If there was no dereliction from applicants then why do applicants have to bear the brunt for none of their fault,” said Nazir Ahmad, a fruit grower.
The growers said the J&K government should probe why and how the notification was cancelled after 15 years.
“Action must be taken against the officials for keeping applicants hanging for 15 years and suddenly cancelling notifications,” they said.
The growers demanded immediate intervention of J&K LG Manoj Sinha in this regard.
Jahangeer Ganaie
