Punjab minister lays foundation stone for grain market subyard in Mohali village
Punjab Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian today laid a foundation stone of a Dana Mandi (procurement centre) subyard at the Saneta village in Mohali. The subyard will be built in an area of 5 acres at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore and will be completed in 6 months.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone, Khudian said government has given a major relief to the farmers of more than 20 villages in the nearby area by approving the construction of the subyard. Earlier, due to the lack of a Dana Mandi in Saneta, the farmers were forced to sell their crops roadside.
The minister further congratulated the gram panchayat of Saneta village for the generosity shown by giving the panchayat land for the project in 2011.
Three auction platforms, a big shed, 71 shops and booths, a water tank and water disposal will be constructed at the mandi.
Earlier, the arrival of 60,000 quintal of paddy and 33,000 quintal of wheat was recorded at the mandi, which will now be enhanced with the completion of construction of the new market.
The grain market is being tipped to providing major relief to the urban area from traffic during the procurement season.
Expressing disagreement with the Centre’s new agricultural marketing policy, the minister said, “The farmer could not store the crop for a long time in wait for the handsome price of grain in the open market. There are more than 1,800 mandis/procurement centres in Punjab that cannot run with this new system. Therefore, the state government does not agree with this new marketing policy to safeguard the interests of farmers.”
Keeping in mind the health of farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who is on indefinite hunger strike, he urged the Centre to consider the demands of the farmers. He added that farmers’ demands should be met and called for doing away the “indifferent” approach towards the farmers.
Addressing councilor Sarabjit Singh Samana call for the newly built building of Saneta Hospital be opened soon, the minister assured discussing the issue with Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh.
