Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], October 9 (ANI): The Revenue, Horticulture and Tribal Development Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Jagat Singh Negi, on Friday said apple production in the state had declined significantly this season, with only around 1.30 crore boxes reaching the market, compared with more than 2.25 crore boxes last year.
Addressing the media in Shimla, Negi attributed the decline to adverse weather conditions, including inadequate chilling hours, cold weather during flowering, unseasonal rainfall, hailstorms in some areas and drought in others.
“Apple production has been much lower this year than last year. As of today, only around 1.30 crore boxes have reached the market, compared with more than 2.25 crore boxes last year,” Negi said.
He said the total quantity of apples procured and brought into the market through government channels had reached around 3.25 crore boxes last year, a record in recent years. He added that the government had also cleared pending payments under the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS).
Negi said the decline in apple production had affected the state’s horticulture-based economy, which generates business worth around Rs 5,000 crore annually when the value of apples, packaging material, labour and transportation is taken into account.
The minister said the reduced availability of apples had also affected processing operations at crushing units, particularly at Parala. He added that the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) could not undertake crushing operations at its Paramount unit this season because of the shortage of produce.
Targeting the BJP over pending payments to orchardists, Negi accused the opposition party of misleading people on the issue. He said the previous BJP government had left liabilities of Rs 114 crore under the Market Intervention Scheme when it demitted office in December 2022.
“When the BJP government left office in December 2022, it left behind Rs 114 crore in liabilities towards orchardists under the Market Intervention Scheme. Our government has cleared that amount and has paid more than Rs 264 crore to orchardists under the scheme to date,” he said.
Negi also criticised BJP leaders over their alleged remarks concerning Himachal Pradesh and its people, saying such statements were inappropriate for an elected representative.
Reacting to the remarks of Kangana Ranaut without naming the leader directly in the remarks, he said the people of the state, particularly those in Mandi district, would be hurt by statements that appeared to portray Himachal Pradesh or its people as a burden.
He also accused the BJP leadership of remaining absent from areas severely affected by the 2023 monsoon disaster in Mandi district. Negi said that when the region suffered extensive damage, the concerned political representative did not visit the affected areas, citing concerns over damaged roads, rainfall and safety.
The minister also raised concerns over the Election Commission’s Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, alleging that the exercise could be used to influence election outcomes by removing eligible voters from electoral lists.
“SIR has become a way to win elections. The Election Commission appears no longer satisfied with the use of EVMs, and now the thinking seems to be that elections can be won through SIR,” Negi alleged.
He claimed that if voters were removed from electoral rolls before elections, the electoral outcome could be manipulated. Referring to West Bengal, he alleged that the number of voters removed through the revision process in some constituencies was comparable to the BJP’s victory margins.
“These developments pose a serious threat to democracy in India. If we fail to stop the misuse of SIR and the policies of the Modi government that are against the interests of the country, democracy will be in danger and could be on the verge of ending,” he said.
Negi further alleged that attempts could be made to manipulate electoral rolls in Himachal Pradesh through Forms 6 and 7, which are used in processes relating to voter registration and objections or deletions.
He said the people of Himachal Pradesh were educated and asserted that the state government would not allow any such attempt to succeed in the state. (ANI)
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