ITANAGAR, Jun 5: Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein urged the horticulture department to complete the formalities and start work on establishing spices auction centres in Namsai, Kimin, and Balukpong.
He gave this directive during a meeting with senior officers of the department and the Spice Board at his office here on Tuesday evening.
Mein informed that Rs 20 crore has been allocated in the budget for the establishment of the three auction centres.
“The auction centres will help to boost the farmer’s economy as it will do away with the middleman, since the buyers of agriculture and horticulture produce will come to buy directly from the farmers at these auction centres,” Mein said.
He told the horticulture department to submit the guidelines and the DPR immediately, and asked the officers from Spice Board’s divisional office here to provide requirements and technical support to the department in preparing the guidelines and the DPR.
Agriculture and Horticulture Secretary Mimum Tayeng while highlighting the progress of the projects informed that the guidelines for budget implementation and concept paper for the auction centres are almost ready and will be submitted to the government within one or two days.
She informed that land for the auction centres in Namsai and Kimin is already available, and that work will start once the formalities are completed.
Among others, Agriculture Production Commissioner Ashish Chandra Verma, Planning Special Secretary Himanshu Gupta, Spice Board Divisional Office Assistant Director Anan Debbarma, and Horticulture DirectoR Kamo Ado were present at the meeting. (PRO to DCM)
