Marketing of apples smooth: HP chief parl secy

A day after BJP leader Narinder Bragta alleged that apple growers in Himachal Pradesh were facing problems due to poor road conditions, state Chief Parliamentary Secretary Rohit Thakur today accused the former horticulture minister of playing politics over the issue.
Thakur claimed the marketing was smooth and so far 1.70 crore apple boxes had been sent across various markets.
"The government had announced that it will open 275 collection centres under Market Intervention Scheme (MIS), out of which 260 centres have already been made functional," he said, adding that an amount of Rs. 50.33 crore has been sanctioned for upkeep of roads during the apple season.

The chief parliamentary secretary further said that the progress of work on Theog-Hatkoti road was being monitored by the High Court, and the Chief Minister himself had inspected the road recently and issued necessary directions to the authorities concerned for keeping it open.
"Congress has always protected the interests of the horticulturists and smooth marketing of apple crop was being ensured at controlled rates in different markets," he said.
Asking Bragta to refrain from making false accusations, Thakur said that if he was truly a well wisher of apple growers, he should take up the issues of farmers with the NDA government which has "scrapped" 42 out of total 63 centrally- sponsored schemes.

"Construction of 162 road projects and 26 bridges involving an estimated expenditure of Rs 731 crore under PMGSY and 109 irrigation projects worth Rs. 338 crore were pending clearance from the Centre for past 18 months," he alleged.
Hitting out at Bragta, Thakur said the BJP leader should ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the promise made by him at Solan regarding import duty hike on apples.
Meanwhile, Thakur also said that the budget for construction of link road to Kotkhai Hospital has been sanctioned and tenders invited for the same.