Chairman, KEF, Showkat Chowdhary, urged the government to keep the tunnel open round the clock so that “no fruit laden truck remains stranded.”
Kashmir Economic Forum (KEF) has expressed serious concern over the losses being suffered by the horticulture sector in the Valley “due mainly to the government restrictions on the movement of fruit laden trucks at Jawahar tunnel.”
Chairman, KEF, Showkat Chowdhary, urged the government to keep the tunnel open round the clock so that “no fruit laden truck remains stranded.”
“The stranding of the trucks damages the fruit which causes losses to the growers and dealers,” he said.
KEF said the horticulture forms the mainstay of the state economy and the government should provide every kind of support to the growers at this point in time when fresh fruits are being exported to outside mandis.
“The fruit has low shelf life and if the trucks are stranded unnecessarily at tunnel, the consignment would not reach to the dealers outside the state on time. The fruit would get damaged. By restricting the movement of the fruit laden trucks at Jawahar tunnel, government is spoiling the fresh fruits and the horticulture industry,” he said.
Chowdhary said the transporters are also charging higher rates to the growers because of the loss of time at the tunnel.
The KEF Chairman said: “The valley growers toil hard during the year to ensure better crop. Now if this crop gets spoiled because of the restrictions at the tunnel, it would render this hard work waste.”
KEF also expressed concern over the increased freight. “Government should regulate the freight or else the horticulture sector will be badly affected,” he said while demanding 25 percent subsidy on the freight by the government.