Will take up issues of apple growers with Centre: Sukhu

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today said that the state government would formulate a policy in consultation with all stakeholders to address the concerns of apple growers. A delegation of the ‘Seb Utpadak Sangh’, led by former MLA Rakesh Singha, called on the Chief Minister here. Sukhu assured the delegation that he would raise the issues of the apple growers with the Union Minister for Environment, Forests and Climate Change.

Sukhu said that the Forest Department had been asked to conduct an inquiry into the reports of tree felling in Karsog and Kullu after the court’s directive.

Sukhu said that the state had urged the Centre to allow the allocation of one to five bighas of forestland for the rehabilitation of disaster-affected families, which had been rendered landless.

Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi assured the growers of full support and said that relief could also be considered under the Forest Rights Act, 2006, as had been done in the case of the Pong Dam oustees. Former Mayor Sanjay Chauhan and CPM leader Kuldeep Singh Tanwar also attended the meeting.