Srinagar, Sept 14: The fruit mandi in Shopian has remained closed for the second consecutive day owing to the non-availability of transport and steep fare hikes, leaving apple growers distressed at the peak of the harvesting season.
Growers said apple consignments worth nearly Rs 30 crore are stranded, with eight-tyre trucks carrying fruit not being allowed to ply on the Mughal Road, which has become a major bottleneck for transportation.
According to traders, thousands of apple crates are lying unsold and unattended at the mandi, while growers fear heavy financial losses if the situation is not resolved immediately.
“Transportation charges have gone up abnormally, and even then trucks are not being allowed. Our fruit is perishable, and every passing hour adds to the losses,” said one of the growers.
