Agri panel clears ‘sabji mandi’ complex for Kangra town
The Agriculture Producers Marketing Committee (APMC), Kangra, at its recently held meeting, chaired by Nishu Mongra, the newly appointed chairman, deliberated and decided on many long-pending issues before the committee.
It cleared a new complex of the “sabji mandi” for Kangra town, which will be built on 30 kanals at Kachhiari near the junction of the two four lanes for which inspection by SDM Kangra was recently held. The complex is likely to be completed in three years at an estimated cost of Rs 5 crore. The committee has estimated an income of Rs 7.76 crore and expenditure of Rs 7.71 crore for the year 2025.
According to the chairman, apart from a rest house, the provision of cold storage (CS) has been made in the proposed ultra-modern “sabji mandi”. He said the site in Kangra town where the vegetable market was located was disputed, overcrowded and inconvenient for the smooth flow of traffic. Moreover, the existing structure had become weak in the past five decades which had necessitated the making of the new premises.
He added that the “sabji mandi” at Pasu (Dharamsala), ready for long, would also be made operation in two months once the issue of the removal of a few life-threatening trees was resolved.
Taking a cue from the difficulty faced by farmers during the procurement season, the Riyali and Fatehpur grain markets will be developed and the capacity will be increased by building new yards in it. CCTV cameras and boundary walls will also be constructed there. The inauguration of Kisan Bhawan in Jasoor will be done by the Chief Minister soon.
Nishu Mongra said the land where Kisan Bhawan was built in Ichhi was getting acquired for the airport, therefore a new Kisan Bhawan would be built by finding a suitable place. It would be equipped with all modern facilities for the convenience of farmers and traders.
He said the CM was interested in opening cold stores in every Assembly constituency. A blueprint had been prepared to open one such store in Sulaha and the proposal had been sent to the government. This would help local farmers to compete with traders who come here from Punjab and sell vegetables in the open at exorbitant prices.
