22nd November will go as a historic day in the history of Himachal Pradesh

From Our Shimla Correspondent

22nd November will go as a historic day in the history of Himachal Pradesh in general and farmers and fruit growers of the State in particular as Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister performed the foundation- stone laying ceremony of one of the modern biggest Agriculture Marketing Yard at Parala near Theog in district Shimla today to be constructed at estimated cost of Rs. 100 crore to cater to the needs of farmers and fruit growers of Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Solan and Sirmour districts with modern marketing facilities.

Addressing a mammoth public gathering on the occasion, Chief Minister said that 86.5 kms. long dedicated Horticulture Road Chhaila-Neripul-Oachghat-Kumarhati would be constructed at a cost of about Rs. 100 crore and join National Highway at Kumarhatti in district Solan. He said that the existing road would be widened to intermediate lane standard with seven double lane bridges and road pavements strengthened as well to facilitate the farmers of the area. He announced Rs. 20 crore for starting the construction work of Parala Marketing Yard on priority.

Dhumal said that State Government would create a strong network of agriculture marketing yards to cater to the trading needs of the growers. He said that Solan Marketing Yard had carried a record business of Rs. 200 crore during recent season. He said that budgetary provisions had been made for construction of grading and packing houses in apple growing areas of the State. He said that Bhalkhu road would also be upgraded and improved to serve as alternate route.

Chief Minister said that modern marketing yards would be constructed at a cost of Rs. 7.5 crore at Bandrol in district Kullu, Ghumarwin in district Bilaspur, Karsog in district Mandi and Haripurdhar in district Sirmour during current financial year. He said that marketing yards at Jahu in district Hamirpur, Nirmand in district Kullu, Khara Patthar in district Shimla, Dharamshala in district Kangra and Joginder Nagar in district Mandi, were nearing completion where Rs. 9.45 crore were being spent. He said that 25 collection centres were also being constructed at different locations to facilitate growers with grading and packing facilities which would be managed by village-level local committees.

Dhumal said that value addition in farm sector was on the priority agenda of the State Government and schemes valued at about Rs.1200 crore were under implementation. He said that fruit production of 11 lakh metric tonnes and 8 lakh metric tonnes of vegetables were being cultivated in the State for which State Government had created a strong network of 10 major and 38 sub-marketing yards to sell farm produce. He said that all Deputy Commissioners and Sub-Divisional Magistrates had been directed to make arrangements for Janta Mandis to create platform to the local farmers to sell their produce. He said thatfarm sector had vast potential to generate employment and self-employment avenues to the educated unemployed youth in the farm sector at their door steps.

Chief Minister said that the proposed marketing yard at Parala would be constructed in three phases wherein facility to store 2 lakh metric tonnes of fruit and 1.5 lakh metric tonnes of vegetable at a time. He said that in the first phase auction hall, grading, packing line, loading and unloading platforms, administrative block and banking facilities would be created. He said that additionally agriculture inputs i.e. seed, fertilizer, plant protection material, agriculture implements, its repair workshops, would cater to the requirements of farmers. He said that the unique feature would be management and disposal of the perishable commodities in the shape of organic fertilizer besides creating adequate parking and circular road facilities. He said that in the second phase, shops for traders, storage houses would be constructed and in the third and final phase besides residential facilities to the employees, rest houses for growers and traders would be constructed in addition to the cold storage and ripening chambers.

Narender Bragta, Horticulture and Technical Education Minster thanked the Chief Minister for giving one of the best gift to the fruit and vegetable growers of the State, especially those in the districts of Shimla, Kinnaur, Kullu, Mandi, Solan and Sirmour, who would immensely be benefited with modern marketing facilities within the State at Parala itself. He said that it was under the leadership of Prof. Dhumal that Kisaan Bhawan was constructed at Azadpur Subzi Mandi, Delhi at a cost of Rs. 1.65 crore to facilitate boarding and lodging facilities to the growers visiting Delhi to sell their produce. He said that Rs. 84 crore were disbursed under MIS to the growers in the year 1998, clearing all back long and liabilities inherited from the previous Government. He said that in addition to apple, mango, tomato, potato and ginger had also been brought under the fold of crop insurance scheme. He said that Rs. 85 crore Apple Rejuvenation Scheme had been launched in the State to change the old root stock with high yielding varieties.

Horticulture Minister said that it was under the dynamic leadership of Prof. Dhumal that the 8 percent market fee in Delhi market was got scrapped during the regime of late Dr. Sahib Singh Verma, which successive Congress Government in Delhi failed to implement and the State challenged the same in Hon'ble Delhi High Court. He said that instead of implementing the decision of the preceding Government, Delhi Government scrapped the law. He said that irrespective of difficult geo-graphical conditions, the State Government had succeeded in marketing about 5 crore apple cartons and ensured an average rate of Rs. 722 per box in the markets.Virender Kashyap, MP, Lok Sabha, thanked Chief Minister for establishment of one of the best marketing yards at Solan which had emerged a hot trading centre for farm produce. He said that traders from different markets of the country were visiting Solan to buy fruit and vegetable. He said that the upcoming subzi mandi at Parala would emerge a main centre for marketing of farm produce.

Suresh Bhardwaj, MLA said that it was during BJP regime that interests of growers were being protected. He said that marketing yards were constructed at Solan, Parwanoo and Dhalli, Shimla. He said that Dhumal had raised the marketing fee issue with Delhi Government and later on approached Delhi High Court to get the decision of Delhi Government implemented. He said that it was unfortunate that Congress Government in Delhi instead of implementing the directions of the Hon'ble High Court scrapped the law.

Rakesh Verma, local MLA, welcomed the Chief Minister to his home segment and thanked him for laying foundation stone of marketing yard at Parala. He congratulated the Chief Minister for winning Best State Award for the State in the country. He detailed the developmental milestones established under the leadership of Dhumal in Theog and thanked him for his liberal financial assistance for various projects.

Radha Raman Shashtri, former Speaker, HP Vidhan Sabha, thanked the Chief Minister for the vision of setting up of a self-contained biggest marketing yard at Parala which would facilitate the fruit and vegetable growers of the area immensely.

Chander Mohan Thakur, Chairman, HP State Cooperative Bank, Sher Singh Chauhan, Chairman, ARDB, Shri Gyan Chandel, Chairman, APMC, C.L.Negi, Chairman, Fruit and vegetable growers Association also thanked for setting up of the marketing yard.

Sandeepni Bhardwaj, Member, National Kisan Morcha, welcomed the Chief Minister.

Dr. Rajiv Bindal, Health Minister, Ganesh Dutt, Vice Chairman, HIMUDA, Brij Lal, Chairman, Kailash Federation, Tarsem Bharti, Senior BJP Leader, D.D. Sharma, President, Theog BJP Mandal, Ram Subhag Singh, Secretary, Agriculture, J.S. Rana, Deputy Commissioner, Sonal Agnihotri, S.P., B.D. Sharma, Director, Information and Public Relations, Dr. J.C. Rana, Director, Agriculture, Dr. Gurdev Singh, Director, Horticulture, Madan Chauhan, Managing Director, HPMC, Pradeep Chauhan, Chief Engineer, PWD, Dr. H.R. Sharma, Chairman, H.P. Marketing Board, prominent people of the area, senior officers of various department were present.