2 mandis proposed at Rohru, Kullu

Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 18

The authority of the Rs 1,134-crore horticulture development project has proposed to set up a processing unit at Parala Mandi,  two new mandis at Rohru and Kullu and upgrading 12 old mandis by March next year. 

Sources said the authority had decided to recruit 87 persons to speed up the project, which had been delayed due to a protracted dispute between Horticulture Minister Mahender Thakur and Principal Secretary, Horticulture, JC Sharma.

A team from World Bank had reviewed the progress of the project during series of meetings held from November 12 to 16 here. It had pulled up the authority for the poor progress of the project.

Allaying fears of farmers that “substandard” apple plants are being dumped   at Duttnagar and other nurseries in the state to be supplied to them later, project director Dinesh Malhotra said,  “We have sought a technical report on plant material kept at these nurseries. We will distribute disease-free and good quality plant material to farmers in December or January next year.” 

Over the poor progress of the project, the authority informed World Bank that 5 per cent of the funds have been spent so far. “We have set a target to spend Rs 135 crore, that comes to be 10   to 12 per cent, by the end of this financial year under the action plan,” said Malhotra.

Malhotra said the plan to upgrade 12 sabji mandis across the state was  underway. Two new mandis — one at Rohru and the other at Kullu — would be opened under the project. 

He said land for setting up a processing unit at Parala Mandi in Theog was being transferred from the Agricultural Department to the Horticulture Department. A detailed project report was being prepared, he said.