Compensate orchardists for landslide losses: Arhtiyas

Shimla, July 21

The landslide at the fruit mandi at Bhattakuffar was waiting to happen for the last four to five years. On Monday, a deluge of stones and mud from the hills crushed hundreds of apple boxes. “We were aware of the threat and had brought it to the notice of the authorities concerned many times, but nothing was done,” said Harish Thakur, president, Dhalli Arhtiya Association.

“Both orchardists and loaders should be compensated, or we will be forced to take some action,” he added.

Harish Chauhan, president of Himachal Pradesh Fruit, Vegetables and Flowers Growers Association, said that the produce of the orchardists should be insured once it reached the auction yard. “Who will pay for the losses suffered by the orchardists in the landslide? There are many small-time growers, for whom 70 to 80 boxes make a huge difference,” he added.

Mandis shut on July 24

Fruit and vegetable mandis will remain closed on July 24 in protest against the government’s proposed law to allow farmers to sell their produce to anyone and anywhere in the country. As per the law, there will be no restriction on selling produce to the licensees in the APMC or the mandis. The arhtiya associations will formulate their further strategy on July 24. — TNS