HimVani
Shimla (July 29): Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister has urged the Planning Commission of India to sanction a special package of Rs 121 crore to the state to take up dedicated horticulture road construction project to connect the upcoming modern agriculture and horticulture produce marketing complex at Parala near Theog with different terminal markets outside the state.
In a latter written to Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Vice Chairman, Planning Commission of India, he wrote that the upcoming modern marketing yard at Parala was the first of its kind in the state which was being developed in the apple growing area and benefitting apple, other fruits and vegetable growers to sell their produce at remunerative prices to the traders visiting the venue from outside the State. He reminded of the matter which was already in the knowledge of Commission since it had been raised in the discussions held during the meeting to finalise Annual Plan for the current financial year held in Delhi on March 1, 2011 and approval in principle was granted. He said that the state government was endeavouring to develop its own self-contained marketing network to cater to the marketing requirements of the growers and save them from the middlemen as well as marketing fee being levied upon them in Delhi terminal markets.
Chief Minister said that the proposed Parala-Neripul-Sanaura, Rajgarh-Banethi-Barog-Kanshiwala (Nahan bye-pass)-Kala Amb-Shahbad-Delhi road would not only connect the Parala market with Delhi during apple season but also cater to the transportation requirements of other cash crops like ginger, garlic, potato, tomato, peas, pulses, off season vegetables and citrus fruits grown in catchment areas of Shimla, Solan and Sirmour districts round the year. He said that the road would also be beneficial to the growers of Kinnaur, some parts of Kullu and Mandi areas as well. He said that with the launching of Pandit Deen Dayal Kisaan Baagwan Samridhi Yojna, a large number of poly houses had come up where cash crops was being cultivated under controlled climatic conditions and were fetching good income to the farmers.
