CM approves mega Food Park in Ludhiana

Chandigarh, May 28, 2014: In a bid to give major fillip to state’s Crop diversification program, the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave in principle approval to the proposal of Punjab Agro Industries Corporation to establish a Mega Food Park at Ladowal in Ludhiana district over an area of 100 acres thereby promoting Food Processing Industry in the state.
Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that the Chief Minister, while presiding over a high level meeting here at his residence late last evening, directed the Managing Director (MD) Punjab Agro that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) regarding the proposed Food Park be finalized at the earliest for submitting it to the Ministry of Food Processing, Government of India. The total cost of this project was estimated to be about Rs. 150 crore. Deliberating upon other details of the project, Badal also directed the concerned authorities to complete the entire plan along with getting requisite approvals simultaneously, within three months. He also directed to finalize a policy in this regard for allotting land sites in this Mega Food Park to genuine companies, which would firm up big investments in a time bound manner.   
The spokesperson further informed that in order to tap the huge potential of Fisheries in the state, the Chief Minister also gave approval to establish two new Ultra Modern Fish markets at Amritsar and Bathinda on the pattern of already approved at Ludhiana. He also asked the Fishery department to tie up with national level players for promoting fishery in the state as the farmers of the state could be immensely benefitted from it. He further directed the Fishery department to send group of Fish farmers from the state in batches to National Fish Training institutes like Central Institute of Fish Training, Bhubaneswar for enhancing their skills.
In another significant decision pertaining to the establishment of Maize processing Cluster in the state, the Chief Minister asked the department to identify a large chunk of land besides working out a comprehensive plan for it. Taking a stock of two multi juicing plants of Punjab Agro at Hoshiarpur and Abohar, Badal expressed satisfaction over the operational schedule of these plants to produce juices of Kinnow, Pear, Water Melon, Guava, Litchi, Carrot and Amla etc.
In order to give boost to the marketing of Kinnow, Badal asked the Punjab Agro and Horticulture Department to tie up with key players like Walmart, Cash and Carry and others for benefitting the farmers by ensuring remunerative price of their produce. He also directed the department to launch a vigorous advertising campaign for proper marketing of Kinnow fruit from the state across the globe.
Badal also assured the Horticulture department that every Horticulture seed farm would be strengthened and upgraded by equipping them with all modern facilities to produce quality seed. He also directed the department for the promotion of high density Horticulture farming along with drip irrigation facility, which would help in bailing out the farmers from the current agrarian crisis.
Prominent amongst those present in the meeting included Financial Commissioner Development Suresh Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Animal Husbandry G Vajralingam, Special Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Gaggandip Singh Brar, Secretary Food Processing DS Grewal, and Secretary Agriculture and MD Punjab Agro KS Pannu besides Director Animal Husbandry and Director Fishery.