PDP Vice-President Abdul Rahman Veeri has demanded immediate assessment of losses incurred by the horticulturists and asked government to mitigate the same at an earliest.
In a statement, he urged the governor administration to press into service the experts in the field of horticulture so that they could guide the fruit growers to minimise the losses and avoid such catastrophic situation to take toll in future.
Veeri said that ahead of Diwali, the demand of Kashmiri apples is high in various Indian states and that the government must expedite the snow clearance along the national highway so that the produce reaches out side markets on time instead of getting rotten in the go-downs. PDP Vice President also urged the administration to restore power and water supplies to Valley which has been reeling under darkness since the occurrence snowfall. He added that government must ensure adequate supply of essentials to the affected areas especially in the country side wherein the unseasonal snowfall has wrecked havoc.
PPD General Secretary GhulamNabi Lone Hanjura termed the damage caused to the horticulture sector in Kashmir worrisome, stating that the government must assess the losses and mitigate the affected farmers at an earliest. He further stated that in district Budgam, the areas that have been worst affected include char-e-Sharief, Pakharpora, Gogjipathri, Surasyar, Khansahib, Beerwah and several others. He added that the snowfall has left the fruit growers in the midst of tumultuous times and losses incurred are massive. Hanjura further stated that there are various areas in Budgam district that have become unaccessible due to the absence of snow clearing machines and urged the government to restore connectivity besides the supply of essentials in these areas without further delay.