Chandigarh/ Jalandhar, February 23:
Punjab Rural Development and Panchayats, Farmers’ Welfare & Agriculture and NRI Affairs Minister Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal on Wednesday said Punjab Government would develop Mandis across the state as Modern Mandis equipped with requisite facilities for farmers and other stakeholders.
While laying foundation stone of development projects worth Rs. 11.47 Crore in several Grain and Vegetable Markets, Agriculture Minister said that these Mandis would be developed as per the need of the present time to cater the modern needs of farmers.
Interacting with the media persons after kickstarting development works worth Rs. 2.29 crore at New Vegetable Market, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal said that the Punjab Government had set aside Rs 100 crore in 2022-23 financial year for strengthening infrastructure and other development works in Mandis of which 18 crore was allocated to the Mandis fallen in Jalandhar district. He said Mandi Board had been ensuring complete revamping in Mandis throughout Punjab to facilitate farmers with requisite facilities especially during the seasons of procurement and selling of crops.
The Minister also pointed out that Punjab government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was committed to make every needful facility in Mandis for the peasantry and other stakeholders. The Minister said that works including repair of inner and outter roads, construction of boundary walls, CC and bricks flooring , steal cover sheds etc so that these could be established as modern Mandis.
Referring to link roads, the Minister said that 10.61 crore would be incurred for this purpose in assembly constituencies namely Nakodar, Shahkot and Phillaur with widening of roads from 10 feet to 18 feet. The PWD Department is also initiating the works of repairs of roads in time to come at a cost of Rs 9.92 crore to a total length of 66.75 kilometres, he added.
Answering to queries of media persons, the Minister said that Punjab Government would bring a new Agriculture Policy by the end of March this in the larger interests of farmers. The Minister also announced that the Punjab Government would also initiate the supply of canal water for irrigation purposes as the plans in this regards were on advanced stage of completion.
Meanwhile the Minister also laid foundation stones for various development works at Mandi’s in Goraya, Roopewali in Shahkot, Nakodar, Shankar, Sarih, Mithra and Kot Badal Khan. He said that the second phase of revamping the Mandis in Doaba region would start shortly. He also listened to the issues of people on these occasions and assured that the State Government would fulfil demand put forth today in the due course of time.
Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included MLAs Raman Arora & Balkar Singh, Deputy Commissioner Jaspreet Singh, District Planning Committee’s Chairman Amritpal Singh, Olympian Surinder Singh Sodhi, Dinesh Dhall and others.
