Transporters at Aglar Fruit Mandi in Shopian protest lack of facilities
Shopian: Members of the Transporters Association of the Aglar Fruit Mandi in Shopian staged a protest on Thursday, highlighting their grievances over the lack of basic infrastructure and accommodation facilities at the mandi.
The protesters, including drivers, traders and laborers, expressed their frustration, stating that the unavailability of essential amenities is severely affecting their work and the smooth functioning of the mandi.
They, while raising slogans in favour of their demands said that they ask for immediate attention to their issues.
The mandi, a vital hub for fruit trade in the region, lacks adequate parking spaces, restroom facilities, and shelter for transporters, the transporters said.
During inclement weather, we are forced to operate in harsh conditions, which not only hampers our livelihood but also affects the quality of produce being transported, the protestors said.
“This mandi is a lifeline for Shopian’s fruit industry, but the administration has failed to provide us with basic facilities. We are forced to work in these poor conditions, and no one seems to care about our plight,” they alleged.
They said that government has allotted them land long back but has failed to take up developmental works at the site.
Recently, a non-local truck driver lost his life due to severe cold conditions and if there would have been accommodations facilities available, he wouldn’t have died, they added.
A protestor said that despite repeated appeals to the concerned authorities, no action has been taken to address their issues. They warned of intensifying their protests if their demands were not met soon.
The protestors emphasised the importance of a well-equipped mandi for the overall development of the fruit trade in the region.
They urged the government to take immediate steps to improve the infrastructure of the mandi and ensure that those working there are provided with basic amenities.
They also sought immediate attention of DC Shopian for providing parking lots, accommodations and other facilities to the drivers especially non locals at an earliest.
