Satellite apple collection yards to be set up

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 24

In view of the commencement of apple season, the district administration has decided to set up satellite apple collection yards at various places to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Deputy Commissioner Amit Kashyap said this while chairing a meeting to take stock of the preparedness for the apple season here today. “We will make proper arrangements to ensure that social distancing is maintained. Besides, standard operating procedures (SOP) for this are being formulated,” he said.

He said instead of the normal practice of having big market yards at a few locations, it has been decided to set up satellite yards at Samala, Mahendli, Chirgaon and Anti in Rohru, Pragatinagar and Deha in Theog and Duttnagar and Bithal in Rampur.

He asked the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) to provide a list of arthiyas or buyers, who will be coming from outside the state to purchase apples, to the district administration. “These people must obtain e-pass and the APMC must make arrangements for their stay in hotels,” he said.

Kashyap said proper arrangements would be made to ensure sanitisation of the yards besides making arrangements for eating facility for the drivers of vehicles. “It will be mandatory to set up close circuit cameras wherever private yards will be set up,” he said.