To curb fleecing of apple traders, ID cards to be issued to agents

To curb cases of commission agents duping apple traders, the Solan police will undertake a complete background investigation and identification of truck drivers and vehicle owners involved in the transportation of the fruit in the forthcoming season.

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The Secretary, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC), Solan, will issue identity cards to the commission agents for easy identification of genuine people while also initiating action against suspicious persons.

The issue of apple trade was pondered over at a meeting convened by the SP, Solan, to ensure safe and systematic operations where the Secretary, APMC Solan, commission agents, transporters, Additional SP and other police officials were present.

“Key issues like law and order, traffic management, security arrangements and the protection of the interests of workers, commission agents, drivers and farmers working in the market in the upcoming apple season were discussed in depth,” said SP, Solan, Gaurav Singh.

To enhance the preparedness of the police, it was decided to install high quality CCTV cameras at the entry/exit gates of the fruit market complex to monitor every truck and person coming to the market. This would also strengthen the security system.

Special deployment of traffic police is also being done in the market and surrounding areas to ensure smooth inflow of traffic during the apple season while alternative parking places are also being identified to streamline the movement of heavy vehicles. Besides, regular police patrolling in the fruit market complex will also be done on a daily basis along with the deployment of reserve force to avert accidents.

The SP requested all commission agents and transporters in Solan to work in coordination with the police administration to ensure safe and smooth operations. To enhance coordination, a WhatsApp group had also been created where all stakeholders could share their inputs, he added.

He said, “The police are committed to ensuring safe, orderly and crime-free environment so as to strengthen the fruit economy of the state.” The apple trade, which registered a business of Rs 130 crore in 2017, touched Rs 150 crore in 2021 and had been rising by leaps and bounds over the years.