140 link roads blocked in Shimla

Over 140 link roads are lying shut in the upper Shimla area, causing inconvenience to apple growers in taking their produce to mandis, due to incessant rains.

The maximum link roads (45) are blocked in the Rohru sub-division, which is the largest apple producing area in Shimla district. “The situation is quite bad. The government machinery and manpower is busy in keeping the main roads clear. At many places, people are trying to clear up the link road themselves,” said an apple grower from Rohru.

Even as the roads are disrupted, the growers can’t even delay harvesting of their fruit due to rampant leaf fall in their orchards. “Due to leaf fall, there is excessive fruity dropping. So, the growers can’t even delay harvesting. They are facing a tough time,”

he said.

Chetan Bragta, the BJP spokesperson, said several roads in the Jubbal-Kotkhai were disrupted and the apple growers were unable to take their produce to the market. He questioned the functioning of Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC), saying the corporation opened MIS centres late.

He alleged that apple procured under the MIS was still lying at collection centres.