Advisor Sharma visits Ghatti Industrial Estate Kathua, inaugurates wheat procurement centres at Palli and Jakhbar

Kathua: Advisor to the LG, KK Sharma Tuesday undertook an extensive visit to the Ghatti industrial Estate coming up in the Kathua district to see the status of completion of this prestigious project, aimed at providing the necessary logistic and other support to the aspiring entrepreneurs besides catalyzing the industrial scenario in Jammu and Kashmir.
MD SIDCO, Ravinder Kumar; Director Industries Jammu, Anoo Malhotra; DC Kathua, O P Bhagat also accompanied the Advisor during the visit.
The Advisor while taking a review meeting had a detailed discussion with the officers regarding various amenities established to facilitate the industrialists. He said they should be pro active to the issues and needs of the entrepreneurs so that the industrial scenario in the UT is catalyzed in a proper manner for the requisite fillip.
The Advisor directed the officers to ensure that the industrial units which have been permitted to operate for manufacturing the daily needed essentials in the UT should be extended every possible help. He said the staff of these units should also be educated about the safety measures to be adopted in view of the global pandemic.
The Advisor was informed that that the industrial estate comprises of 3502 Kanal of land of which 3160 Kanal is in possession of SIDCO, 121 Kanal of land has been allotted to different Government departments like PDD, Police and for construction of common facility centers like power grids and other facilities.
He was also told that 321 kanal of land has been allotted to Government departments and to a Biotech park. 146 Kanal of land has been allotted to 31 private entrepreneurs for setting up their units and 1180 kanal of land is available to be allotted to individual industrial units.
Pertinently, the Ghatti Industrial Estate coming up in the Kathua district would be providing the requisite land and other services to the aspiring entrepreneurs for setting up their own industrial units
Earlier, the Advisor in order to facilitate the farmers amid the ongoing lockdown, inaugurated two wheat procurement centers at Palli and Jakhbar villages of Kathua.
Director Agriculture Jammu, Inder Jeet; CAO, Vijay Upadhaya; DAO, Sanjeev Rai Gupta were also present.
At the outset, the Advisor said the minimum support price (MSP) for all types of wheat has been pronounced at Rs. 1925 per quintal. He also said these procurement centers will help the farmers in getting authentic price for their yield and if they get more money than the MSP, they are free to sell their produce in the open market.
The procurement centers have been established by the FCI in coordination with the Agriculture Department, Advisor informed and added that eight procurement centers will get established in Kathua district to facilitate the farmers.
Several farmers’ delegation also met the Advisor and apprised him of various problems being faced by them viz. compensation for damaged crops, subsidy on agriculture inputs, permanent procurement centers and waiver of registration fees of Tractor purchased for agricultural needs.
The Advisor after hearing their issues patiently told them that every possible care will be taken to resolve their issues on priority. He also advised them to follow lockdown guidelines and maintain safe physical distancing while working in their farm fields besides putting on masks while carrying out farming activities.