Mustang apples rotting in godowns

Mustang : Transportation of apples has become a problem with the obstruction in the Beni-Jomsom roadway.

The Beni-Jomsom roadway remains obstructed since the past week with landslides, inundation and floods in several locations of the 76-kilometer road. As a result, the apples already harvested and packed have started rotting in the godowns, apple farmer Hari Thakali of Tukuche in Thasang rural municipality-1 said.

Apple is farmed in around 1,115 hectares of land in Kowang, Tukuche, Marfa, Jomsom, Kagbedi, Muktinath and Chusang of the district. On an average, 5,000 metric tonnes of apple is produced by the district. Last season apples worth Rs. 250 million were sold from the district, according to Chief of the Ghorpajhong rural municipality, agriculture division Bimal Khadka.

The road obstruction has brought traffic to a standstill while the locals, tourists and pilgrims have been seriously affected. All possible efforts are being made to open the road for traffic as soon as possible, said engineer at the Beni-Jomsom-Korala road project Pradip Niroula. RSS