Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 10: The State Government is contemplating to construct a cold store at Kolkata for preservation of fruits being sent by the Horticulture Planning and Marketing Department to Kolkata fruit mandi, and a Kissan Bhawan at a cumulative cost of Rs 13.25 crore for which 6.5 kanals of land have been leased at the prime locations of the 4th largest terminal market of the country.
This was stated by the Minister for Horticulture, Housing and Culture, Raman Bhalla while chairing a joint meeting of officers of Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Agriculture, Revenue and Forest Departments convened to review the functioning of the departments here today.
The Minister said that the construction of Cold Store and Kissan Bhawan at Kolkota became imperative as the mandi receives and handles the fresh fruits from the Jammu & Kashmir to feed the sub markets of the entire North Eastern States. He said that the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for both the projects have been completed and the work will be started shortly.
Mr. Bhalla said that the land measuring 4 kanal situated at CP-12 Sector-V, Salt Lake, Kolkata, has been identified for construction of Multi Commodity Cold Store with minimum 200 metric ton (MT) capacity of fresh fruits for which an amount of Rs 9.25 crore has been earmarked and would be spent this year. Likewise, land measuring 2.5 kanal, situated at LA-5, Sector 3, Salt Lake Kolkata, is proposed for construction of Kissan Bhawan having 24 rooms, dining hall, office and a conference hall is proposed to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 4 crore.
The Minister said that besides Kashmiri Apples, Cherries and Plums, a large quantity of Basmati Rice, Mushroom, Kala Zeera, Honey and Saffron will be preserved in the Cold Store which has great demand in the area.
It was disclosed in the meeting that the annual business turnover of fruit trade of J&K at Kolkata is near about Rs 150 to 160 crore out of which about Rs 50 to 60 crores is the export turnover. The meeting was also informed that the Kolkata fruit mandi receives more than 10,000 boxes of Cherries and 25 to 30 lac boxes of apple annually directly from the Jammu and Kashmir, besides 10 to 25 lac boxes of apple of State indirectly from Azadpur Fruit mandi and Vegetable Market, Delhi.
Commissioner Secretary, Agriculture Production Dr. Asgar Samoon, Secretary Revenue Vinod Kaul, Joint Director Horticulture Marketing S. L. Hangloo, senior officers of JDA, SDA, Revenue and Forest Departments attended the meeting.
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