Latest news with #AgricultureProduceMarketCommittee
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
One arrested & two minors detained for assault on truck driver at Nashik APMC
Nashik: Just two weeks after a fatal attack on a truck driver for money, another trucker was assaulted and robbed by four individuals, including two minors, inside the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Nashik. The incident, which occurred late on Wednesday, was reported to the Panchavati police station. According to inspector Gajendra Patil of the Panchavati police, the victim — 27-year-old Suraj Brahmanavat from Vaijapur taluka in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district — was assaulted around 11.30pm. Brahmanavat was packing his belongings when four people approached him and demanded money. When he refused, they attacked him, forcibly taking Rs21,000 from him. One of the assailants also struck him on the head with a stone. Police have detained two juveniles, who have been sent to a Juvenile Home. One adult accused has been arrested and remanded to three-day police custody, while the fourth person remains at large. All the attackers are residents of Nashik city. Patil said that police have strong leads and expect to apprehend the absconding individual soon. On June 22, the body of a truck driver from Karnataka was found near Chamar Leni on the outskirts of the city. Investigation revealed that he was killed by a group of four. This incident is equally serious, considering it occurred in the city and involved two minors. The truck drivers have expressed a need for the safety of the truckers who carry out their business at night.
Hindustan Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
APMC onion-potato market redevelopment proposal to be finalised ‘within a week'
NAVI MUMBAI: The much-delayed redevelopment plan of the onion-potato market at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) complex in Vashi will be finalised within a week, officials said, even as the latest effort by authorities to vacate it failed in the face of opposition from traders. Navi Mumbai, India - June 25, 2025:Redevelopment proposals being finalized as thousands risk lives daily at `extremely dangerousÕ Kanda Batata APMC market buildings in Navi Mumbai, India, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (Photo by Bachchan Kumar/ HT PHOTO) (HT PHOTO) Several buildings in the market, constructed in 1979-80, have been declared extremely dangerous by the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). Earlier this week, the civic body disconnected the water supply to the onion-potato market to force traders to vacate it. The supply was restored on Tuesday after traders gave the civic body an undertaking saying they would accept responsibility for any incident, and claimed precautionary measures have been undertaken. 'Since last year, we have, along with the APMC, taken up repair work,' said Sanjay Pingle, president of the traders' organisation. 'Onion and potato are essential items and, hence, the market cannot be shut. We have given an undertaking to the civic body on the issue. The traders are ready for redevelopment, which should be taken up at the earliest.' However, Manohar Totlani, another trader, said there seems to be no will to take up redevelopment as the proposals have been repeatedly changed. 'We should be given adequate space and not have to spend for it, which is what redevelopment is all about,' he said. Redevelopment of the wholesale market, spread over 175 acres, has been stalled for years due to disagreements over floor space index (FSI) and costs. The redevelopment plan has also been mired in controversy over the source of funds and traders' demand for additional space, leading to a court battle. With thousands of people working or coming for business to the wholesale market risking their lives on a daily basis, especially with the monsoon in full swing, APMC secretary PL Khandagale said a permanent solution is on the anvil. 'We have been working on a redevelopment proposal, but it needed some technical changes to make it feasible. The plan has been revised accordingly, and our project management consultant should submit it in a couple of days,' he said. Khandagale added that the new redevelopment proposal takes care of all aspects to ensure traders' support, and the factual position will be presented in the court. 'We are confident of concrete developments in a week to take up the process at the earliest.' Along with the onion-potato market, the redevelopment proposal of the central facility building (CFB) in the spices market has also been approved, he said. 'We have designated buildings where the traders can be shifted in case of any incident. We are also finalising additional areas to meet any eventuality,' he added. The onion-potato market was the first to shift to Navi Mumbai in 1981, following a government decision to decongest Mumbai by shifting the wholesale markets. Poor construction led to NMMC in 2003 designating it a C1 (dangerous) category building to be vacated immediately. The CFB building and the MAFCO vegetable market were later declared C1. Other buildings, including the administrative building, are also in poor condition. Over the years, portions of the building's ceiling and plaster have fallen. In December last year, the APMC administration installed iron pillars adjacent to the dilapidated pillars to support the galas and buildings in the onion-potato market, along with undertaking repair work. The traders have removed several dilapidated roofs and constructed sheds.
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
200 containers of imported tur dal seized by APMC squad
NAVI MUMBAI: Two hundred containers of imported tur dal have been seized by the vigilance team of the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Navi Mumbai, for bypassing the APMC and attempting to sell the produce directly in the market. In one of its biggest-ever operations, the APMC squad also levied a record fine of around ₹1,11 crore on the importer. The seizure was made on the night of May 29, following a special drive, where the vigilance team was keeping watch at JNPA, Turbhe, Nerul, the Thane-Belapur Road and Navi Mumbai area for vehicles illegally transporting agricultural produce. While checking a container trailer at Vahal junction in Uran, the team found it was transporting tur dal. Documents recovered from the driver revealed the container was part of a 200-container consignment of tur dal exported by Agglo Commodities FZE, Jebel Ali, Free Zone, Dubai. They had been imported by Namha Imports, Mumbai. The squad also found no record of the consignment at the APMC. In other words, the importer did not have permission to import the produce in the APMC's jurisdiction, nor did it have an import licence from the APMC. No cess, supervision charges of 1%, or market fee for the consignment had been paid. After the initial container, the team seized all 200 containers from the godown where the consignment had been stored. The squad seized 5,010 tonnes of the pulse worth ₹34.6 crore. The vehicle used to transport the containers was also seized for non-payment of charges and conducting business illegally. It is mandatory to get APMC permission to engage in the agricultural produce business in the Mumbai region. Under the Maharashtra Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act, 1963, a penalty can be levied that is three times the fees and charges for perishable agricultural produce seized for violating the rules. Apart from the fine, market fee, supervision charges and other related fees are also recovered by the APMC. In the last two months, the APMC has collected ₹30 lakh in fines following its drive against those avoiding the taxes. APMC secretary PL Khandagale, said, 'The failure of the importer to inform APMC of the import and payment of the dues confirms the intention of evasion of the market fee and supervision charges. We are hence recovering ₹1,11,48,000 in fines and dues from the importer.'
Hindustan Times
17-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Traders at Vashi APMC market boycott Turkish apples
Navi Mumbai: Traders at the wholesale APMC (Agriculture Produce Market Committee) market in Vashi have decided to boycott Turkish apples and other fruits in light of the support extended by Turkey to Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Retailers too are avoiding apples imported from Turkey while some traders are reportedly selling their existing stock claiming the apples are imported from South Africa. Every year, the APMC market receives large quantities of Turkish apples, which are famed for their quality and sweetness and priced at around ₹140 per kilogram, compared to ₹90-120 per kilo for apples from other regions. The apples start arriving in October and continue till the middle of the year, said former APMC director (fruit) Sanjay Pansare. Vijay Bhende, a fruit trader at the APMC market, said India imported around 1.18 million tonnes of Turkish apples this season, valued at over ₹1,000 crore. Nearly 1,000 containers of Turkish apples were consumed in Mumbai alone, said Pansare. 'Imports of Turkish apples had surged in recent years,' said Pansare. 'But Turkey's siding with Pakistan has hurt us badly. We will not do any business with them henceforth.' The current season for Turkish apples was coming to an end and only a limited quantity was still left in the market, he said. 'New orders for Turkish apples are placed June onwards, by traders who often go to Turkey to strike deals. But we have decided that no orders will be placed for Turkish apples, cherries and other fruits this year,' he said. Traders at the APMC market concurred that they had collectively decided to stop trading in Turkish apples and other fruits. 'We cannot be doing business with a country that is opposed to India,' Bhende told Hindustan Times. 'We will import more apples from South Africa, United States and Iran, which are also popular, to meet the shortfall in supply.' Another trader said they were trying to sell their existing stock of Turkish apples claiming the fruits were imported from South Africa. 'But the ploy does not work in all cases,' the trader said. 'Regular retailers can identify Turkish apples, which are sweeter than the South African ones. So we have no option but to lower the price of Turkish apples and sell them along with apples imported from other countries.' The mood among retailers was similar. Rizwan Shaikh, a retailer from Mumbai, said though the demand for vibrant red Turkish apples had been growing in recent years, things changed following the conflict with Pakistan. 'Turkish apples are crisp and sweet and align with the taste preferences of Indians. But since Turkey backed Pakistan during the recent conflict, there is a need to send out a strong message. Hitting them financially is the way to do it,' said Shaikh. Even consumers are no more interested in buying apples imported from Turkey, the retailer said. 'People are now asking us if the apples we are selling are imported from Turkey,' he said.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
Man, son die in bike-pickup vehicle crash in Manmad
Nashik: A 37-year-old man and his son (13) were killed while another person suffered serious injuries after the bike they were riding triple-seat on was hit by a speeding pickup vehicle in Manmad in the early hours of Thursday. Police identified the deceased as Kishor Sonawane of Nagarsul in Yeola taluka and his son, Rutik. Ravindra Balu Sonawane, who was also riding with them, suffered serious injuries in the accident, police said. "The trio went to attend a religious function. They were on their way back home when they were hit by the speeding pickup vehicle on Manmad Chandwad Road around 3am. The pickup vehicle was driven by Chandrakant Ramdas Chaudhary, a resident of Pimprale in Nandgaon> He has been arrested," an officer said. The three people were riding the bike from near the Agriculture Produce Market Committee gate in Manmad when the accident occurred. "Apart from knocking down the trio, the pickup driver dragged them a certain distance, resulting in the two deaths. Sonawane also suffered serious injuries in the accident. The motorcycle they were riding was damaged," the officer said. The police said they registered a case against the pickup driver under sections 105, 118, and 324 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and other sections of the Motor Vehicle Act for rash and negligent driving.
