Apple growers led by Chetan Singh Bragta stage a strong protest in Shimla
Apple growers, led by BJP leader Chetan Singh Bragta, staged a massive protest outside the HPMC headquarters in Shimla against the anti-farmer policies of the Congress government, alleged massive irregularities in the apple MIS scheme, harassment of farmers, and serious mismanagement by the HPMC. During the protest, the growers submitted a detailed memorandum to the Managing Director of the HPMC, demanding immediate action.
Protesters alleged that despite having garden cards, farmers were repeatedly asked for revenue documents, even though the garden cards already contain all the gardening data. This caused unnecessary hassles, payment delays, and mental stress for farmers.
Apple growers have accused the HPMC of serious mismanagement, claiming that collection centers in many areas were not opened on time, daily lifting limits were imposed, and trucks were not sent despite road access. This led to the rotting of apples worth approximately ₹20 crore.
The issue of environmental hazards was also highlighted during the protests. It was alleged that rotten apples were dumped without due process and environmental assessment, causing serious damage to the environment and public health.
Regarding the MIS scheme, allegations have also been made that the World Bank-funded online module was deliberately not implemented, raising serious questions about the transparency of the entire process. To date, neither final procurement figures nor actual losses have been made public.
BJP leaders stated that the HPMC’s financial situation is extremely concerning. The corporation has approximately 4,000 metric tons of unsold apple juice concentrate, estimated to be worth ₹48 crore, while the HPMC is already running at a loss of approximately ₹80 crore.
On this occasion, the BJP demanded an immediate vigilance investigation into the entire matter, strict action against officials responsible for the wasted apple harvest, financial losses, and environmental violations. The fines imposed on orchardists for discarding apples in 2023 should be refunded, payments due under MIS should be released immediately, and spray oil, manure, fertilizer, and other essential inputs should be made available promptly.
The BJP stated unequivocally that the Congress government’s negligence, mismanagement, and anti-farmer attitude have severely damaged Himachal’s horticulture and apple economy. The party warned that if the demands are not met soon, the issue will be vigorously pursued, both on the streets and in the House.
