SRINAGAR, Oct. 20 -- The Centre has sought a refund of more than Rs.4.16 crore from the Jammu and Kashmir Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (JKHPMC) after a proposed integrated pack-house project for apple grading, packing and storage failed to materialise despite nearly two decades of deadline extensions.

Documents accessed by Kashmir News Observer (KNO) show that the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), functioning under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, released Rs.1.42 crore to JKHPMC on September 28, 2005, for the project, estimated to cost Rs.3.88 crore.

The project was intended to establish modern post-harvest infrastructure for apple growers in Jammu a...