TOTAL PROJECT COST 1681 CRORE
210 CRORE SANCTIONED TO INITIATE CONSTRUCTION WORK
WORK TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 10 MONTHS
NewZNew (Chandigarh) : The Punjab government and NABARD today signed a MoU to construct 10 silos, at different locations in Punjab, equipped with highly mechanized infrastructure vertical steel silos with a storing capacity of more than 5 lakh tonnes of food grains. The Silos would be constructed in consultation with the NABCONS, a Nabard consultancy service. These silos would be basically for the safe open bulk storage of grains.
The MoU was signed between MD Pungrain, Mr. S.S. Johal on behalf of the Punjab government and Chief General Manager NABARD Mr. Naresh Gupta in the presence of Punjab Food Minister, Mr. Adaish Pratap Singh Kairon, Principal Secretary Food Mr. G. Vajralingam, Director Finance Mr. M. S. Sarang, Chairman Pungrain, Mr. D.S. Grewal , Chief General Manager NABARD, who has recently been transferred to Punjab, Mr. P. M. Ghoray and other senior officers of both the organizations.
The total cost of the Project is Rs. 1681 crore which would be constructed in phases. For the construction in the first phase which would be started tomorrow, an amount of Rs. 210 crore has been sanctioned. The different locations for setting up of the silos have been identified by the Food department.
Talking to the NABARD team, the Minister said that the construction of silos would be in a day or two and the entire construction work would be executed within 10 months by March 15, 2016. He recalled that in the year 2011 the Punjab Food department initiated the construction of silos with World Bank assistance and was awarded by the International Finance Corporation, a World Bank organization for the best Project.
The Chief General Manager NABARD Mr. Naresh Gupta said that NABARD would provide every kind of financial or technical assistance to Punjab till the execution of Silo Project.