Srinagar
Appealing the government to support those whose orchards were damaged in a recent snowfall, MLA Langate Er Rasheed on Monday sought considerable package for fruit growers all across the valley, who have suffered huge losses on account of damage caused to their orchards due to sudden snowfall.
The spokesman said that after visiting the different areas of snow hit Langate Rasheed said that whenever such calamity used to hit the valley, revenue and horticulture authorities used to carry out a comprehensive survey but nothing is being paid to the fruit growers or formers at the end.
The damage caused to fruit growers in the valley is beyond an imagination. Rasheed added that while Governor’s revelation that fruit growers will be compensated is a welcome move but we need not forget that in the past, successive governments have made promises only to break them. He also reminded that if state government and prestigious institutions like J&K Bank could help in the rehabilitation of Kerala flood-hit victims and even compel the state government employee to donate one day’s salary for the cause, why should not central government come to the rescue of state government as fruit industry is the backbone of the state economy.
Rasheed urged the government to declare the damages caused as natural calamity huge so that fruit growers and orchard owners can be compensated more properly and in stipulated time.
