Economy

Protest in Sopore Mandi: Loaded fruits rot on highway due to ‘stoppage of trucks’, say traders

Posted on

Representational Image.

Srinagar: Scores of traders on Monday held a protest demonstration in Asia’s second-largest fruit Mandi in Sopore area of north Kashmir’s Baramulla district against halting of supply trucks on Srinagar-Jammu national highway by police.

Witnesses said that scores of traders assembled in the premises of Sopore fruit Mandi and held a protest demonstration against the authorities for “unnecessarily” stopping fruit-laden trucks on Srinagar-Jammu highway.

The protesting traders said that they have been facing huge losses as the loaded fruits get rotten on the highway due to the continuous stoppage of trucks. They also warned that they would suspend trade at fruit Mandi Sopore in case police continued to stop fruit and vegetable-laden trucks on the national highway.

In this regard, Sopore fruit Mandi president, Fayaz Ahamd Malik said that the traders have faced losses of around 13 thousand crores after the abrogation of 370 last year and due to unnecessary stoppage of loaded trucks by police at several places along Srinagar-Jammu highway.

He said the authorities keep on turning a blind eye towards this issue.

Meanwhile, the traders said that the distribution of early varieties of apples and other fruits and vegetables were badly affected as trucks remained halted on the highway for many days, resulting in losses to the fruit industry.

When contacted, Inspector General of Police, Traffic division Kashmir, T Namgiyal said that the allegations are baseless as fruit vehicles are moving smoothly on the highway.

He further said that around 5,000 trucks moved outside JK via the Srinagar-Jammu highway today.

 

Free Press Kashmir is now on Telegram. Click here to Join

Click to comment

Most Popular

© 2024 Free Press Kashmir. All rights reserved.

Exit mobile version