Aaqib Khan
Tangmarg, Aug 25 [KNS]: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday laid the foundation stone of the Fruit and Vegetable Market at Wussan Kunzer area of Tangmarg, fulfilling a 25-year-old demand of local growers.
MLA Gulmarg Farooq Ahmad Shah, who was present on the occasion, termed it a historic moment for the constituency.
Speaking to KNS, Shah said the area produces lakhs of fruit boxes annually but had no designated market, forcing growers to travel to Sopore, Srinagar or outside J&K to sell their produce.
"For 25 years people have been demanding a fruit and vegetable mandi here. Our area produces lakhs of boxes. They had no proper place to sell. This is a historical moment today," he said.
He expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar for making the project a reality.
"I thank the Hon’ble Chief Minister and his cabinet and Javed Ahmad Dar Sahab, who made a lot of progress in this," Shah said.
"I have said in the Assembly also, we can be the Switzerland of Asia. When we talk about tourism, we are the best in the country, when we talk about horticulture," he said.
Shah further informed that a CA Store will also be established at the site in the coming days to provide cold storage facilities to farmers.
"Today mandi has been made. InshaAllah in the next few days we will lay the foundation of the store as well," he said.
Hinting at more developmental works, Shah said major announcements regarding Gulmarg constituency are in the pipeline.
"A big news about change in Gulmarg constituency is coming soon and its foundation will also be laid by the Hon’ble Chief Minister. I promise the people that by 2029 we will make this constituency one of the best," he added.
The ceremony at Wussan Kunzer was attended by a large number of farmers, locals and officials.