Suhail Bhat
Jammu/Srinagar, Sept 11: While in Jammu the functioning of Fruit and Vegetable Market at village Chak Avtara in Bishnah has been delayed as the Executive Officer, Municipal Committee Bishnah is denying building permission to the allottees of shops on pretext that the subordinate revenue agencies have not given NOC stating that the land on which the shops are to be constructed is Garmumkin Chapri, similar remains the fate of two fruit markets in the Shopian and Anantnag in South Kashmir, which were approved many years ago to improve trading facilities, primarily for the apple crop. While the markets in South Kashmir remain underdeveloped the growers complain that the lack of facilities is negatively impacting the trade.
Sources informed that the land in question in Bishnah is under Khasra number 357 measuring 20 kanal and six marla in village Chak Avtara and was acquired by the Horticulture Department through the then Collector Land Acquisition Jammu.
They also informed that the land stands mutated in the name of Horticulture Department which has spent Government money for construction of administrative block, road and boundary wall in and around the acquired land.
“The allotment of shops at the market was done and 54 shops were allotted in 2013, 11 in 2016 and 21 in 2021,” the sources maintained.
In Kashmir, the Government decided to build state-of-the-art Fruit markets in the Aglar and Jablipora areas of South Kashmir’s Shopian and Anantnag districts in 2005 and 2013, respectively, to improve market facilities for the apple crop, which is the mainstay of the economies of these south Kashmir districts.
However, markets remain unfinished although the apple trade contributes significantly to the region’s economy, with traders blame Government indifference for the delay.
Apple traders from Shopian said they were asked a few years ago to operate out of a new apple market in the Aglar area on the outskirts of town, where basic amenities are lacking. “Aside from some auction sheds, nothing is available at the market,” Ali Mohammad, a local trader, said.
Apple growers said authorities promised them a satellite market with parking for hundreds of trucks, an office for traders, residential quarters for workers, a banking facility, and lodging for outside traders, but none of these amenities are available at the market.
They said that after a 14-year wait; they were given a facility that lacked even basic amenities.
The Bijbehara growers shared similar concern as the facilities including market yards, weighing bridges, administrative buildings, banks, post offices, cold storage, 600 shops, and other amenities are yet to be developed in the market.
“We were expecting the completion of this market by now. But, the Government’s lax attitude has let us down yet again,” says grower Nissar Ahmad. He alleged that in the facility’s absence, they are forced to operate from Anantnag or Shopian fruit markets, causing trade to suffer.
While expressing dissatisfaction with the project’s delay, traders accused the department of failing to complete the facility despite receiving contributions from growers. “We donated Rs 1 lakh for office spaces, but we have yet to receive the benefits,” said Rashid Ahmad, a local fruit trader.
The traders said that, besides facilitating trade, the markets would have provided jobs for hundreds of local youth.
“Administrative indifference has squandered both the projects,” growers said. They added that this shows the government’s attitude toward the development of the state’s horticulture sector that generates crores of rupees annually.
Officials privy to the details said that the projects suffered several setbacks, including at least three unrests and devastating floods in 2014. “These are the comprehensive projects that will include all the amenities. We didn’t expect it to be finished right away, but it should have been thrown open by now. Unfavourable circumstances caused the delay,” he said.
Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Vishesh Mahajan, told Excelsior that flood protection wall at Shopian market, which costs around Rs 2 crores, is yet to receive approval, but that authorities have assured him it will be approved soon. “We have brought it up with the government and are hoping for approval soon,” he said.
When asked about the Jablipora market, he said that the entire project was being reviewed because not enough land was available for the project. “Some of the land has been allotted to a different department, which means there need to be some changes in the project or more land needs to be made available. The entire project is being reviewed,” he explained.
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