The Newz Radar
SHIMLA: The Himachal Pradesh government has slapped a penalty of Rs 1 lakh on an apple orchardist in Rohru subdivision of Shimla district for dumping apple produce in a ‘nullah’ (drain) recently citing alleged lack of road connectivity for ferrying the fruit crop to market for sale.
A purported video of the apple dumping incident had gone viral on social media, drawing widespread criticism for the Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu-led Congress government.
The Himachal Pollution Control Board has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh on the orchardist, Yashwant of Balasan village in Rohru. He has been told to pay the amount in 15 days. After the recent torrential rains, which led to snapping of road links, Yashwant allegedly dumped apples into a ‘nullah’ adjacent to his orchard. A video was shot, which went viral on social media.
Yashwant had then maintained that the apples had rotted due to the road closure. After being attacked by the opposition, Chief Minister Sukhu had said that the BJP was allegedly misleading the public by spreading lies.
On the instructions of Horticulture Minister Jagat Singh Negi, the Rohru SDM investigated the matter and an FIR was also lodged against the person who shot the viral. Now, the Pollution Control Board has taken action in this matter.
