Shopian, October 19: Spread over almost 30 Kanals of land, Arhama Fruit Mandi in south Kashmir’s Shopian district is lacking space and proper infrastructure and thereby causing immense trouble to fruit growers and traders alike.
Traders here demanded the opening of new Fruit Mandi located at Aglar Village of Shopian district as the Arhama Fruit Mandi is failing to meet the ever-growing demands of Apple trade here.
They added the present Fruit Mandi can accommodate nearly 50,000 apple boxes, while as more than 1 lac of them are already stored at the Mandi. “The apple laden trucks which enter the Mandi further complicate the space problem here.”
“There are around 400 sheds available for the traders and also separate buildings for quarters and offices have been constructed here. All these constructions have literally chocked the Fruit Mandi, although we have been requesting the government from a very long time to solve the issue while urging them to open the Aglar Fruit Mandi which is still under construction,” they added.
Arhama Fruit Mandi President Mohd Ashraf Wani said that they do not understand why government is taking so much time to construct Aglar Fruit Mandi.
According to official reports, the work on Mandi at Aglar Shopian, spread over 600 Kanals of land, has been almost completed but the construction of retaining wall on the riverside is pending due to the lack of funds.
When contacted Executive Engineer Flood Control Shopian, he said: “During 2014 Floods the retaining wall of Aglar Mandi got damaged following which a counterfort retaining wall of 1200 meters in length was approved by then Chief Minister. We have submitted a detailed report of the project and the total cost of the work has been estimated as 17.80 Cr out of which only 2.25 Cr has been released.
“We will be able to build the remaining part of the retaining wall only if the government releases all funds,” he added.
