Soz urges Patel to restore freight subsidy for J

New Delhi, June 29 (UNI) Union Minister for Water Resources Saifuddin Soz today met Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel and urged him to restore 50 per cent air freight subsidy for flowers transported from Srinagar to New Delhi suddenly stopped since June 18.

Prof Soz told his Civil Aviation counterpart the reasons behind the subsidy and how its withdrawal could affect the poor flower growers and trade. Mr Patel on his part was convinced about the arguments and assured Prof Soz that the subsidy would be restored forthwith.

Prof Soz also made a strong case for restoring the pre-June 18 rates and explained how the trade was adversely affected during the last 15 years of militancy. The introduction of subsidy had been fruitful for J&K, as the state had bagged the first prize at the All India Flower Show in New Delhi early this year.

UNI MNC SI RS1819