Srinagar, Oct 13: People’s Democratic Party (PDP) youth president and MLA-elect Pulwama, Waheed ur Rehman Parra on Sunday expressed deep concern over the “deteriorating state” of the district’s horticulture industry, alleging that it is being crippled by administrative dysfunction and negligence. He called for the immediate intervention of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to address the mounting challenges facing the sector.
In a statement issued here, Parra said that with unemployment rising across the region, the local economy, which is largely sustained by horticulture, is under severe threat. “The backbone of the region is being suffocated by the failure of the local horticulture department to fulfill its duties. The department is in shambles, leaving farmers abandoned in their struggle for development, pollution control, and proper shop allotments,” he said.
Waheed said the struggles faced by fruit traders and truckers are due to the region’s inadequate infrastructure. Issues such as outdated storage facilities and a lack of cold chain management are causing significant financial losses for those trying to transport and sell their produce, he said.
Parra said the Pulwama mandi is operating without proper sheds and there has been no macadamisation, leaving the entire area engulfed in dust. “Fruits are being stored in makeshift tin sheds installed by the traders themselves without any government support. The irony is that the government, which claims to support the fruit industry, has provided no assistance. All their promises have fallen flat and proved to be a hoax,” he said.
He said the environmental pollution continues to harm orchards and fruit crops in the district and called for immediate pollution control measures to protect Pulwama’s agricultural output from further damage.
The MLA-elect Pulwama condemned the ongoing delays in providing proper market spaces, saying that without adequate facilities, farmers are unable to sell their produce effectively, resulting in worsening financial hardships.
“The daily struggles faced by truckers transporting horticultural products, who must contend with poor infrastructure and logistical challenges. Our fruit traders and truckers suffer daily due to inadequate infrastructure and the government’s failure to act,” he said, adding, “This is not just about Pulwama but the entire supply chain that links us to national markets. Immediate intervention is needed to safeguard these livelihoods.”
The PDP leader said there is an urgent need to save the rural economy and the fruit industry. He called for urgent reform within the horticulture department, saying that its inefficiency has worsened the situation for all stakeholders. “Farmers are left to fend for themselves,” he said, adding, “As the department continues to fail in its basic duties of upgrading infrastructure and providing essential services.”
Parra urged LG Sinha to intervene immediately and called for a comprehensive overhaul of the horticulture department, along with a robust development plan that includes infrastructure upgrades, pollution control and proper market facilities for farmers and traders.
“Pulwama’s horticulture industry is on the verge of collapse,” he warned. “Without swift intervention, we risk losing not just a key economic driver but also the livelihoods of thousands of families dependent on it.”
