Srinagar, Sept 28: Terming peace pre-requisite for all economic activities, Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah Tuesday assured the fruit growers that government will facilitate the trans-shipment of fruit from the Valley to the terminal markets.
 While appreciating the concern of fruit growers for smooth flow of fruit laden trucks from different parts of the Valley to outside markets, the Chief Minister assured them full support from the Government including exemption of taxes to empty trucks which will come from outside to our Valley for carrying fruit. But, at the same time, Omar expressed his confidence that keeping in view all round economical miseries “caused by continuous shutdowns and turmoil for last several months including adverse effect on education, now these miscreants will not cause any damage to our vibrant fruit industry for which peak season has started from now onwards.”
  “While the present law and order scenario in the Valley is not the creation of the government yet every effort would be made to help fruit-growers to come out of the trouble inflicted upon them by the perpetrators of lock-outs and disturbances”, he added.
 Chairing a joint meeting of the top brass of the State administration and representatives of various fruit-growers and transport associations here, the Chief Minister said that next three months are crucial for transportation of fruit from the Valley to the terminal markets.
  “Huge damage has already been done to the economy of the State putting trade and commerce to shambles and marring the bread earning capacity of the common people,” he said adding that better sense should prevail to safeguard the fruit industry and the lakhs of people dependant on this activity.
 The Chief Minister said that government would take all necessary steps to provide transport to the fruit-growers and help them export maximum of their produce during the next three months.
 “Our effort would be to bring trucks from other States too and make available the SRTC truck fleet to the fruit-growers to transport the fruit smoothly and as per timeline”, he said and asked the fruit-growers to contribute actively in this regard for their own interest and the interest of the State.
  “The growers and others associated with fruit trade should complement with the efforts of government and help protect this important economic activity of the State from adversity”, he said and made a clarion call for restoring normalcy in the State for the larger public interest.
 The Chief Minister directed the Horticulture Minister to convene another meeting after 15 days to review the progress on the hassle-free transportation of fruit from the State to the outside markets.
 He asked the horticulture, transport, traffic and police departments to attend to the difficulties of the fruit-growers with unity and take appropriate action for ensuring smooth ply of trucks carrying fruit from the Valley.
 The representatives of fruit-growers from Sopore, Varmul, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Islamabad, Handwara and other parts of the Valley suggested various measures for smooth transportation of fruit from the Valley to outside markets.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:00:00 IST