Sopore fruit traders protest ‘blockade’ of fruit laden trucks along Sgr-Jammu highway
Sopore: Scores of fruit traders at Sopore Fruit Mandi here in Apple town Sopore on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest against blockade of fruit laden trucks on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.
Various fruit traders, growers, transporters, labourers and other businessmen associated with fruit Mandi Sopore assembled at the main entrance of Mandi to register their peaceful protest.
They opposed stopping fruit laden trucks loaded with fresh varieties of fruits on the national highway.
The protesting traders said that they have been facing huge losses as the loaded fruits rot on the highway due to the continuous stoppage of trucks along the National highway.
“This is the peak season for fruits to be sold out in different parts of the country and we are suffering at this time,” they said.
President fruit growers and dealers association fruit Mandi Sopore, Fayaz Ahamd Malik said that the traders have already faced huge losses during the last several years due to natural climatic changes and unnecessary stoppage of fruit-laden trucks at several places along Srinagar-Jammu highway.
“The authorities always turn a blind eye towards this issue. Stopping fresh fruit-laden trucks along the highway is worrisome as it is again causing huge losses to fruit traders of the valley,” he said.
He said these varieties of apple fruits need immediate and quick transportation to various destinations outside J&K UT in wake of the peak season of harvesting of apples.
“We have time and again requested the concerned authorities and again we request the LG administration to look into the matter to solve this issue once for all,” he said.
President economic alliance Sopore Haji Mohammad Ismail Khuroo also expressed concern over the halting of fruit trucks from Kashmir on NH-44.
“The frequent halting of fruit laden trucks causes losses to the economy and horticultural produce from Kashmir much before it reaches different Mandis in various parts of the country,” he said.
Bilal Ahmad
