Our Correspondent
Hamirpur, January 9
Even after spending over Rs 5 crore on the construction of a fruit and vegetable grading, packaging and forwarding unit, the government has failed to provide the facility to farmers.
The unit was sanctioned by Anand Sharma, the then Minister of Commerce, in 2013. It was funded by the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority which was established by the Government of India under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority Act.
Sources said the Centre released over Rs 5 crore to the Horticulture Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation (HPMC) for the construction of the unit. The HPMC constructed it at Sera village in Nadaun subdivision of the district. Ramesh Kumar, a resident of the village, said people were expecting the unit to start for the last three years but it was gathering dust ever since it was constructed. Notably, a heavy power supply line was raised and a power generator was also installed for uninterrupted supply to the unit.
Bushes and shrubs have grown in the compound of the unit which was covered with concrete pavers. It appears there is no one to guard the campus of the packaging and forwarding unit. Sukhvinder Singh Sukhhu, MLA, Nadaun, said the unit was a state-of the-art facility for producers of agricultural products, including vegetables and fruits. He said it was unfortunate that even after spending over Rs 5 crore, the state government had failed to make best use of the unit.
Harikesh Meena, Deputy Commissioner, said the issue had come to his notice. He said he was exploring possibilities to make the best use of the unit. "We are writing to the HPMC to get an update on the status of the unit," he added.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service
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