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Hindustan Times
6 days ago
- 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.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Fruit traders in Maharashtra's Vashi halt apple imports from Turkey
The traders at the wholesale Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Maharashtra's Vashi have decided to stop importing apples from Turkey, citing the current diplomatic situation. The development comes in wake of Turkey's open support for Pakistan amid recent tensions between India and its neighbour. The APMC market receives hundreds of containers of high quality Turkish apples, the supplies of which begin from January and last till the middle of the year. Vijay Bhende, a fruit trader, said that they won't be doing business with a country opposed to India. 'India imported 11.76 lakh tonne of Turkish apples last year with the value being over ₹1,000 crore. We do a lot of business with Turkish apples in our market every year as Net Marketing Margin (MMR) is huge. They are very popular because of their sweetness. However, the recent attacks on India have changed the scenario. We cannot be doing business with a country that is opposed to India', Bhende said. Bhende added that traders have also collectively taken a decision to do the same. 'No more orders will be placed for imports. It will have a huge impact on Turkey and teach them a lesson', he said. Also Read: Pune traders boycott Turkish apples, kickstart 'Ban Turkey' movement amid Indo-Pak tensions Traders have instead, decided to import more apples from South Africa and Washington. However, a few traders said they will have to sell the Turkish apples as they had placed the orders earlier. 'Some of us have already paid for the imports of orders that had been placed earlier. We will have to take their deliveries and somehow sell them. Else, we will suffer huge losses', said another trader on condition of anonymity. With large consignments of Turkish apples already in the market, a trader said, 'The trend now is to sell the existing stock as South African apples to bypass the boycott and the general reluctance by the retailers to purchase Turkish apples.' However, he pointed that it won't work as regular retailers can identify Turkish apples which are sweeter than those from South Africa. 'Traders have even had to lower the price of the Turkish apples to match that of other imported apples to sell them along with them', the trader said.
Hindustan Times
16-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Fadnavis backs Turkiye apple boycott as Pune traders claim threat from Pakistan
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday lauded Pune traders for their decision to stop importing apples and dry fruits from Turkiye, calling it a 'nation first' stand in response to Turkiye's support to Pakistan. 'I congratulate all traders who have decided to boycott imports from Turkiye. At this juncture, 'nation first' should be our stand. There is a need to teach a lesson not only to those who orchestrated the killings in Pahalgam but also to the countries supporting them,' said Fadnavis. A group of fruit traders in Pune decided to stop importing apples from Turkiye in protest against the country's open support to Pakistan. A trader on Thursday claimed to have received a threatening voice message from Pakistan. Suyog Zende, a trader at the Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Marketyard, and several others had recently announced they would not deal in apples from Turkiye after that country criticised India's recent strikes on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 'Around 9 am, I started getting phone calls, but I didn't answer them. Later, I received a voice note. The message contained slurs against India and claimed we cannot harm Pakistan or Turkiye. I responded with a voice message of my own,' Zende told reporters. Traders are planning to meet the Pune police commissioner in this regard, he added. As part of the protest, traders at Marketyard on Thursday threw apples imported from Turkiye onto the road. According to Zende, traders in Pune import apples, litchis, plums, cherries, and dry fruits from Turkiye. He said the import of apples alone is worth around ₹1,200 crore.
