OUR CORRESPONDENT
MANAGALDAI: Finally the long-felt need of a cold storage at Kharupetia-the green vegetable hub of the Northeast- has seen the light of the day with its inauguration on Friday.
Synchronizing with the State-level virtual inaugural function by Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar in Guwahati, Mangaldai legislator Gurujyoti Das on Friday inaugurated the multi-commodity and multi- chamber cold storage with a capacity of 5000 metric ton at village Ojagaon which has been constructed with a cost of Rs. 24.88 crore. Speaking on the occasion, legislator Das termed the project as one of his major promises as stated in his election agenda. He underscored the importance of this much needed cold storage for the hard-working farmers of the locality which would prove like a milestone in doubling the farmers' income in the days to come, thus fulfilling the dream of Prime Minister Modi. He urged upon the farmers to come forward and avail its opportunity at a very nominal fee.
Explaining the objectives of this project, Chief Executive Officer of Assam State Agricultural Marketing Board, Bidyut Bikash Bhagawati highlighted the serious concern of the agriculture department in both the production and the marketing chain in implementing such cold storage projects in the State so that the raw agriculture and veterinary products could scientifically be preserved at a very nominal cost to come out with a good sale price. "The cold storage-the first of its kind in Darrang district-will have two freezer rooms, seven chiller rooms with the capacity of 550 MT to 640 MT, two pre-cooling chambers, one ante room and double deep palletized steel racking system," said CEO Bhagawati, while appreciating the efforts of the people behind the early completion of the project.
Deputy Commissioner Dilip Kumar Borah and District Agriculture Officer Uddhab Ch Deka also addressed the inaugural function in presence of District Development Commissioner Subhalakhsmi Deka.