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| In South Kashmir, Truck unions loot apple growers, double freight charges | | Authorities in slumber! | | Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Anantnag, Sept 22: Apple growers are going through a difficult phase as truck unions operating in South Kashmir have arbitrarily hiked freight charges.
A group of apple growers told Early Times that truck unions of the district including unregistered unions increased freight charges unreasonably due to which they were facing serve problems.
These truck unions, they alleged, are enjoying the patronage of concerned agencies.
"At the beginning of season truck unions are resorting to loot and are demanding double freight charges."
Haji Fayaz Ahmad, a resident of Khiram Bijbehara who himself owns an apple orchard and represents Dachinpora Fruit growers association, told Early Times.
He said that due to non-seriousness of transport and district authorities, there is mushroom growth of truck unions in the district mostly operating illegally without any authorization.
"What we can do, they compel us to pay hiked charges as we don't have facilities like cold stores." He added.
He said that his association Dachinpora Fruit Growers Association has raised the issue with the concerned authorities but all in vain as the authorities haven't responded positively.
"Rate for ferrying 1 apple box to Jammu was 26 but now they are demanding 36," he said, adding if they refuse to pay hiked rate truck unions stop services.
"For apple growers it is do or die situation. We can't wait for long.
It is fresh fruit and needs to be shifted to market as soon as possible.
Truck unions know it that is why they increase rates each day," Apple growers alleged said.
They claimed that despite repeated pleas administration hasn't paid any heed to their problems.
Apple growers sought the intervention of divisional administration and transport commissioner into the issue. |
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