As Oppn, growers corner govt on apple crisis, Omar holds meet with Gadkari

With politics heating up over the crisis looming on Kashmir’s horticulture industry, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday participated in a high-level meeting chaired by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari to review the status of restoration of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

Apple growers and traders across Kashmir Valley are up in arms against the prolonged closure of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway — the vital link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country. The highway suffered damages due to the recent rainfall in the region, which has resulted in the fruit growers being unable to transport apple in the ongoing harvest season.

In the meeting was held on Tuesday, Gadkari said despite relentless rain and a major hillslide, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) teams are working tirelessly to keep this key highway operational.

“A two-lane temporary diversion has been built and traffic movement has resumed. Over a dozen excavators and over 50 earthmovers are deployed round the clock for clearing and repairs,” he said. “We are determined to restore this vital national highway to full strength at the earliest, ensuring safety and convenience for all road users.”

A J-K Government spokesperson said Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, during the meeting, said the fruit season “is at its peak and further delays in transportation are causing heavy losses to growers and traders.” He said while blacktopping and maintenance of the road are necessary, it must not come at the cost of prolonged disruption of vital traffic movement.

With the farmers staging protests in mandis, the issue has become a political one with Opposition parties criticising the National Conference government for not taking concrete steps to address the issue.

The NC, in return, has said the highway is managed by the Union Government and has demanded the highway be handed over to the elected government.

On Tuesday, Awami Itihaad Party (AIP) of jailed MP Engineer Rashid staged a protest in Srinagar demanding immediate clearance of fruit-laden trucks stranded on the highway. Several leaders were detained as police swung into action to foil the protest.

“Lakhs of families depend on horticulture for survival. By keeping apple consignments stranded for days, the administration is silently crushing Kashmir’s economy,” AIP leader and MLA Sheikh Khursheed said.

PDP leader Iltija Mufti on Tuesday met L-G Manoj Sinha to apprise him of the “severe crisis crippling” J&K’s apple industry. The party said a memorandum was submitted and the L-G assured to expedite the smooth movement of trucks.

People’s Conference Chief and MLA Handwara Sajad Lone said, “An economy already reeling under impact of tourism losses has now been saddled with horticulture losses.”

On Tuesday, those associated with the fruit industry said they have been assured of restoration of highway on priority basis. “Vehicles continue to remain stranded. Everyone is worried and we don’t know what to do next,” said Fayaz Ahmad Malik, president of Sopore Fruit Mandi, Asia’s second-largest fruit market.

According to the fruit associations, the highway closure has triggered losses over Rs 1,000 crore to the horticulture industry.

Indian Railways on Monday started a daily based parcel service between Kashmir and Delhi. However, fruit growers say the current capacity of trains cannot match normal road transport — which exceeds 1,000-1,500 trucks a day in the peak season.