Sukhu inaugurates Rs. 28.38 crore Market yards in Solan, Himachal to develop fruit hubs
REITERATING his government’s resolve to provide better facilities to farmers and horticulturalists of the state, Chief Minister, Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu today
that government is in the process of developing fruit hubs to increase fruit production according to region-specific conditions.
He said that by adopting high-density fruit plantation and micro irrigation facilities efforts are underway to increase the area under horticulture in the state which will lead to an increase in the income of the growers.
Earlier, CM inaugurated Rs.28.38 crore Apple and Fruit Market Solan and Terminal Mandi, Parwanoo in Solan district.
A sum of Rs. 9.88 crore has been spent for the newly constructed apple and fruit market Solan under Himachal Pradesh State Agricultural Marketing Board and Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC). He also inaugurated the up-gradation and strengthening of the approach road and parking of Terminal Mandi Parwanoo completed with an outlay of Rs 18.50 crore.
The ‘Arhtiya Welfare Association’, Solan presented a cheque of Rs 11 lakh to the Chief Minister as a contribution towards the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Apart from this ‘Uttrakhand Bhratri Mandal’, Solan also presented a cheque of Rs. 51 thousand towards the CM relief fund.
Addressing the public meetings in Solan and Parwanoo, he said that the state government was determined to provide better facilities to the farmers and horticulturists.
He said that under the Himachal Pradesh Shiva Project, approximately 6000 hectares would be done in two phases for the development of the horticulture sector in the state to benefit 15 thousand families from this project costing Rs. 1292 crore. This project will be implemented in seven districts of the state viz: Solan, Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Sirmaur, and Una. He said that the production of fruits like orange, guava, pomegranate, litchi, plum, persimmon, mango, etc. would be promoted under this project. The immediate relief amount has been enhanced to rupees one lakh for the people affected due to calamities, besides Rs. 3000 per channel was being given to those whose crops have been damaged.
The chief minister said that due to heavy rains this year, the state has suffered huge losses. On one hand, the state government is providing basic facilities while on the other hand, relief is being provided to the affected in a time-bound manner. He said that an amount of Rs. 23 crore has been sanctioned for the repair of roads so that the farmers and horticulturists are helped make their produce to the markets well on time. Special attention is being paid to the repair of damaged roads in apple-growing areas.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dhani Ram Shandil said on the occasion that Solan has emerged as a profitable market for apple growers and farmers of the state. Online marketing facilities are available to farmers and horticulturists in fruit and vegetable markets.
Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Minister, Chandra Kumar congratulated the farmers and horticulturists for upgrading marketing facilities in Solan district. He said that with the up-gradation of the fruit markets in Solan and Parwanoo, the farmers and horticulturalists would be able to buy and sell apples and other fruits. He said that the construction of two big auction platforms, 48 shops in Solan market, and 82 new shops in Parwanoo terminal market would make business easier.
Kasauli MLA, Vinod Sultanpuri while welcoming the Chief Minister at Parwanoo thanked him for formally inaugurating the Terminal Mandi. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the state was successfully emerging from the disaster and the World Bank as well.
Chief Parliamentary Secretary and MLA Doon, Ram Kumar Chaudhary, Chief Parliamentary Secretary and MLA Arki, Sanjay Awasthi, Sudarshan Babloo, Mayor of Municipal Corporation Solan, Poonam Grover, Deputy Mayor Rajeev Kaura, State Congress Committee Vice Presidents, Rahul Thakur and Surinder Sethi, former Chairman APMC, Solan, Ramesh Thakur, District Congress Committee Chairman, Shiv Kumar, Chairman Baghat Bank, Arun Sharma, Chairman Jogindra Bank, Mukesh Sharma, other office bearers of Congress Party, representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, Deputy Commissioner, Manmohan Sharma, Superintendent of Police, Gaurav Singh, and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.