Himachal Pradesh: Apple saplings coming illegally from Kashmir, five thousand saplings destroyed in Churag

Saplings of apple nurseries are reaching Himachal Pradesh illegally from Kashmir. Illegal plant suppliers are flouting the Nursery Act. Apple trees are coming in trucks and pickups and there are no restrictions on it. Due to bringing apple saplings in this manner, the risk of virus coming into the state is also increasing. Local nursery producers are also suffering losses due to this. There is a provision of imprisonment and fine for selling apple saplings illegally in the state.

After a prolonged drought-like situation, there was rain and snowfall, so now the apple growers of the state have started planting trees. This has also increased the hopes of the registered nursery producers of the state to be able to sell saplings this time, but at the same time, apple saplings are being brought to the state from Jammu and Kashmir. Neither quarantine certificates of being disease free or virus free are being brought with these plants, nor are they being checked here. This type of sapling has been destroyed in some areas, but large consignments of it have reached many areas.

How are saplings from Kashmir reaching the borders of Himachal without license?
Kuldeep Kant Sharma, a well-known gardener of Gram Panchayat Kamah of Shimla said that how the saplings coming from Kashmir are reaching the borders of Himachal without license. The government should look into this. Viruses and diseases can also come with apple plants being brought into the state illegally. It should come in the right way and should not be sold in the market. If this happens anywhere then strict action should be taken.

Gardens should inform about illegal saplings, immediate action will be taken
At the same time, Vinay Singh, Director of the State Horticulture Department, said that the gardeners should inform the department about the illegal arrival of apple saplings in Himachal Pradesh. Immediate legal action will be taken on such cases. He will take reports from the field in this regard.

Five thousand illegally brought apple plants were destroyed
About five thousand apple plants, which were brought to Karsog illegally from outside the state, were destroyed by the Horticulture Department team by setting them on fire as per the rules in the departmental office at Churag. Subject expert of the department, Dr. Jagdish Verma told that these apple saplings were being brought to Karsog illegally in a vehicle from Jammu and Kashmir by a person from Karsog area. On receiving the information, the departmental team took action and took possession of the plants on January 29. Told that this action was completed under the leadership of the team constituted by the department as per the Fruit Nursery Registration Act. In this Dr. Monica Sharma, Dr. Narayan Thakur and junior technician Jagdish were involved. Told that such action will continue in future also. He has advised the gardeners to be cautious of such people and urged them not to buy fruit plants from such unregistered plant growers and purchase fruit plants from registered nurseries only. It has been requested to inform the department about the people involved in the business of illegal fruit plants, so that action can be taken against them. Told that as per the law, if found guilty, there is a provision of fine up to Rs 50,000 and imprisonment of one year for such a businessman.