Srinagar, Sep 4: In what would help strengthen the marketing activities across the state, Minister for Health, Horticulture & Floriculture, Sham Lal Sharma today dedicated a Rs 2.5 crore fruit and vegetable market to public.
The Minister on the occasion said that government was committed to spread the marketing activities for the fruit and vegetable traders in every nook and corner of the State to improve their income strata.
 He, according to an official statement, said efforts are being made to procure the products of the farmers from their doorsteps. With the opening of Kupwara mandi, the Minister said a long pending demand of this hilly district has been fulfilled.
 He hoped that the trading activities will receive boost in the area and people will get good return of their produces.
 He apprised that the market has been spread over a land of 46 kanals with provision of 179 shops, 2 auction phars, one administrative block, toilet block, chain link fencing, road and parking area, drainage system.
 The mandi has been completed at an estimated cost of Rs. 2.52 crore.
 On the occasion, the Minister also distributed 150 allotment letters for shop sites to the traders in the mandi in a transparent manner in presence of all the applicants and general public.
 He asked the allottees to construct their shops in a minimum possible time and start the business activities at the earliest. He clarified that in case the allottee does not construct his shop within the prescribed period, his allotment would be cancelled. He assured the traders that all basic amenities will be created in the market and efforts will be made to acquire more land for further expansion.
 Describing Kupwara as horticulture rich, the Minister said that government will explore uncovered areas and bring under the ambit of horticulture cultivation. He directed the Director Horticulture and Joint Director Floriculture to organize awareness camps for the farmers at the block level to educate them about the horticulture and floriculture potential so that more and more people adopt these activities.
 Earlier, the Minister inspected an orchard-cum-nursery at Chogul, Kupwara. He expressed satisfaction over the activates of the nursery and directed to explore possibilities for developing latest varieties of different fruits conducive in the Valley environment.
 He was apprised that a revenue to the tune of Rs. 4 lakh generated out of the auction of fruits and saplings during the current fiscal.
 He also inaugurated newly constructed NTPHC at Drugmulla, Kupwara constructed at an estimated cost of Rs. 94 lakh. This was also a long pending demand of the people.
 On way back, he also inspected the JKHPMC Apple Juice Concentrate Plant at Doabgah, Sopore. He was apprised that the plant has produced 6 MTs of apple concentrate during the first six months of the current year. He was further informed that the Corporation has taken measures to rejuvenate its functioning to enhance the production.
 Minister of State for Health & Medical Education & Horticulture, Javaid Ahmad Dar also addressed the gathering and said that government was committed to upgrade the existing infrastructure in the leading fruit and vegetable markets to give further boost to the horticulture activities.
 He said horticulture is the mainstay of state’s economy and all out efforts will be made to involve more and more people in this industry. He said thousands of people were engaged with industry and government was aware about their problems and efforts are afoot to mitigate these in phased manner.
 MLA Kupwara, Mir Saifullah, MLA Lolab, Abdul Hak Khan, Deputy Commissioner, M S Rather, Director Horticulture (Planning & Marketing), Javaid Ahmad Khan, Director Horticulture, Dr. G.H.Shah, Managing Director, JKHPMC, Syed Rafi  Ahmad, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Rakesh Khajuria, Director Indian System of Medicines (ISM), Dr. Abdul Kabir, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director Health Services, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, large number of traders, political leaders, sectoral officers of various departments and prominent citizens of the area were present on the occasion.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Sep 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 4 Sep 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 5 Sep 2011 00:00:00 IST