Say perishable fruits can’t wait, seek daily movement on NH 44
Srinagar, Jul 03: With the harvesting of plums, early varieties of apples, pears, and other seasonal fruits reaching their peak in Kashmir, fruit growers and traders have urged traffic authorities to ensure uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden trucks on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway amid ongoing restrictions on the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
A delegation of the Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealers Union (KVFGDU), led by Chairman Bashir Ahmad Basheer, met Inspector General of Police (Traffic) M. Suleman Choudhary (IPS) in the presence of DIG Haseeb-Ur-Rehman (IPS) to discuss the situation on NH44 in view of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra convoy.
Basheer informed officials that plum, early varieties of apple, pear, and other fresh fruits are presently in full swing and are extremely perishable, requiring transportation to various destinations across the country on a war-footing basis. However, only one-way traffic on NH44 is currently being allowed due to the Amarnath Yatra convoy.
The delegation said the same situation applies to the transportation of fresh fruits and vegetables arriving from outside J&K to the Valley, which also needs uninterrupted movement. “The Amarnath Yatra pilgrims arrive in the Valley annually, and we warmly welcome them, but at the same time, the transportation of fresh fruits, which are extremely perishable, if not allowed on a daily basis, will get fully damaged, causing heavy losses to poor fruit growers. Not to think of a one-day halt, these fresh fruits cannot be stopped even for the shortest interval,” Basheer said.
The fruit growers expressed gratitude to the traffic authorities for making suitable arrangements during previous Yatra convoys for the uninterrupted movement of fruit-laden trucks.
Basheer informed the IGP and DIG that until the commencement of the Yatra convoy, fruit-laden trucks were allowed to ply uninterruptedly, and requested that the same practice be continued in the interest of the horticulture industry and poor fruit growers, who have already suffered losses due to recent climatic changes and natural disasters.
IGP M. Suleman Choudhary and DIG Haseeb-Ur-Rehman gave a patient hearing and informed the delegation that the Traffic Department will discuss further measures for the smooth transportation of fruit-laden trucks. They directed that all fruit-laden trucks carrying perishable fruits must have a signboard on the front window indicating the truck number and variety of fresh fruits, with a stamp of the concerned Fruit Association.
The IGP further informed that all fruit-laden trucks shall be parked at one particular place initially and then allowed to move forward together towards their respective destinations.
A WhatsApp Group will be created by the Traffic Authority, and all Fruit Growers Associations have been urged to remain updated on the group regarding the transportation of fresh fruits, providing details of truck numbers, contact numbers, and stamps of the concerned Fruit Association.
