Approximately 50,000 cartons are currently stranded between Kullu and Mandi. Our biggest concern is how to get these cartons to Mandi efficiently, the PWD minister said. (Wikimedia commons)The Himachal Pradesh governnment is committed to safely transport nearly 50,000 cartons of apple that are lying stranded between Kullu and Mandi amid the rain induced disaster, Satte Public Works Department (PWD) Minister Vikramaditya Singh informed the Vidhan Sabha Thursday.“Approximately 50,000 cartons are currently stranded between Kullu and Mandi. Our biggest concern is how to get these cartons to Mandi efficiently. Transport through river is also being considered as an option,” the minister said.Speaking during the debate on a resolution urging the Union government to declare the natural calamities as a national disaster, Vikrtamaditya highlighted the challenges faced by farmers in the mid-elevation areas of Kullu, a major apple-producing region after Shimla and Kinnaur.“The transportation of these apple cartons is our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring their safe movement to Mandi at all costs,” Vikramaditya said, adding he has directed his department to make all necessary arrangements to facilitate the transport.Vikramaditya also addressed concerns about the changing climate and its impact on the hill state. “The climate change, such as the formation of clouds over Shimla and low visibility, are somehow linked to the Koldam Dam, which is a rockfill embankment dam. We are not against development, but it must be aligned with nature’s balance,” he said.Meanwhile, Rural Development Minister Anirudh Singh criticized the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for the damage caused by recent landslides, blaming it on poor highway construction without adequate tunneling and drainage provisions.“This is a man-made disaster, not an act of God. Rivers are flowing above the roads constructed by NHAI, triggering landslides and worsening the situation,” Anirudh Singh said.The debate saw active participation from legislators across party lines, with a consensus emerging on the need for urgent relief, sustainable development, and greater accountability in infrastructure projects to prevent future calamities.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd