Cold storage commissions solar plant

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, April 26

The city’s first state-of-the-art Controlled Atmosphere Cold Storage has successfully commissioned 60.8 KW solar energy plant to meet its power need.

In its initial two months, it saved 10 barrels of oil from usage, thus saving environment from pollution. Similarly, it will save 9.5 trees of a large size (25-30 years old) per year, as per the data shared by the Germany-based company that installed the plant. 

Its proprietor Raman Gupta, running the private venture in the name of Sakshi Fruit and Vegetable Cold Store, said the cost of the solan panel project was Rs 46 lakh. “It halved the monthly power bill of Rs 2 lakh to less than Rs 1 lakh a month. With this pace, the company will recover the investment in the first five years while the life span guaranteed by the firm is at least 25 years.

Established with technical knowhow from the National Horticulture Board (NHB) and financial assistance by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), it provides storage to perishable merchandise like vegetables and fruits.

This cold storage differs among the controlled-atmosphere (CA) units in the country as it is externally insulated from UV rays and sunlight.

This cold storage has a total capacity of 5,200 MT with six chamber spread over five floors. Each chamber has separate technology to maintain different oxygen, humidity, carbon dioxide, coolness and other gases as per the requirement of products stored.

However, its operator still await subsidy under the ‘fiscal Incentives for industrial promotion 2013’ scheme.

Ashray Gupta, another proprietor of the cold storage, said, the Punjab Bureau of Investment Promotion had issued a letter of regulatory clearances, as per which an agreement between the promoter and the CEO, Punjab Bureau of Investment, on behalf of the state government was signed on July 18, 2016. However, even after the passage of three years no fiscal incentive was given.