| Five years on, HDJ fails to complete mandi | | 4 Satellite fruit, vegetable market Kathua craving for attention | |
G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, May 12: The proposed satellite fruit and vegetable market Kathua, construction of which was started nearly five years ago , is craving for attention.
The Horticulture Department had started construction of Satellite fruit and vegetable market (Mandi) near Kirshan Colony, Kathua but after lapse of more than five years, the work of satellite market is not up to the mark.
Source in department informed Early Times that in eleventh five year plan, the Jammu and Kashmir had decided to establish satellite fruit and vegetable mandi in Kathua, with an aim to provide facilities to the growers.
He further said that in October, 2012 the former Horticulture, Floriculture Minister, Sham Lal Sharma had informed the Upper House that the allotment of shops had been completed and the satellite market would become functional soon. "Slow pace of work is depriving the growers from benefits which the previous government had committed to provide to growers at door steps", he said.
One of the fruit grower, Suresh Kumar said that the horticulture department has not given shops to the deserving ones. "Some of the influential shopkeepers have secured shops in the mandi, by bribing the higher officials of department, who in turn allotted them shops, depriving the deserving one", he alleged, adding that the purpose, for which the mandi was supposed to be developed has been defeated.
Area Marketing Officer of Market and Planning Wing, Digvijay said that the structure of Satellite fruit, vegetable market has almost completed while the shops would be completed shortly by ending of that financial year, following which it would be made functional.
In reply of question, he said that the functioning of satellite market would be started by the end of that year.
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