Shimla admn gears up for apple season

As part of preparations for the upcoming apple season, the district administration has announced a series of measures, including the establishment of control rooms, maintenance of roads, fixation of freight charges and issuance of licences and identity cards to commission agents.

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A review meeting was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anupam Kashyap to ensure smooth and systematic operations during the apple harvesting and transportation period. Officials from various departments participated in the meeting to discuss logistics, road conditions, labor availability, packing material, and coordination between departments to avoid inconvenience to orchardists.

The DC directed the Himachal Pradesh Public Works Department and National Highway authorities to expedite road repairs and ensure timely maintenance. He emphasised strict enforcement against overloading of vehicles, stating that it poses a threat to public safety. “No leniency will be shown in this matter,” he warned.

Five control rooms to be set up

In view of the increased transportation activity during the season, control rooms will be established at five locations in the district — Fagu, Balg, Shoghi, Gumma and Kuddu. The main control room at Fagu will become operational from July 15. Kashyap instructed Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) to deploy adequate staff in these control rooms and directed the Deputy Director of Horticulture to equip the Fagu control room with telephone, fax, and CCTV facilities.

Freight charges to be fixed by SDMs

All SDMs have been directed to finalise freight charges within their jurisdictions, taking into account road conditions, fuel prices, and the volume of produce. These rates will be submitted to the DC office for approval and subsequent implementation. The initiative aims to prevent disputes between transporters and growers.

Traffic plan to ease congestion

To tackle traffic congestion during peak apple transportation, a comprehensive traffic management plan will be implemented. No trucks carrying apples will be allowed to enter Shimla city; instead, they will be diverted via the Dhali-Mehli bypass. Additionally, apple-laden trailers will be barred from travelling between Theog and Shimla between 5 am and 9:30 pm. Empty pickup vehicles will be routed via Bekhalti.

Licences and ID cards for agents

To safeguard orchardists from fraud, the Agriculture Department and Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) have been directed to issue licenses to commission agents only after proper verification. Identity cards will also be issued to drivers and cleaners involved in apple transportation.

The district administration has assured that all measures will be put in place ahead of the harvest to ensure a smooth and efficient apple season.