Srinagar: Kashmir Valley Fruit Growers Cum Dealer Union urged the government of India to ban illegal import of Iranian apple which is being imported under the garb of Afghan apples through Wagah Border.
Fruit growers have sought the intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to safeguard the interests of local fruit growers.
As they say that illegal import of Iranian Apple is eating the share of Kashmiri apple and inflicting losses upon fruit growers.
President, Kashmir fruit growers Union, Bashir Ahmad Basheer said “Iranian Apple via Afghanistan is imported by various traders and its illegal sale thereof is made in our country, as there is zero import duty agreement between Indian government and Afghanistan which is severely hitting our business and causing huge losses to local fruit growers.”
“This elusive activity defeats the realization of taxes and has a negative impact on the apple fruit industry of northern India in general and UT of J&K in particular. The said evasion being against the parameters of commercial and constitutional morality needs to be checked in time to uphold the hygiene and transparency in the merchandise.”
He said it is unfortunate that the illegal and unlawful dumping of Iranian Apple by several fruit traders in our country is not only disastrous to the fruit Growers of Kashmir/ Himachal but also results in huge losses to the State Exchequer.
Fruit growers demanded a ban on Iranian Apple via Afghanistan and its illegal sale in our country is, therefore, necessary in order to safeguard the interest of fruit growers of Kashmir/Himachal Pradesh from further losses and State Exchequer as well.