Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today laid the foundation stone of multinational Cargill's Rs 70 crore greenfield dairy feed project here. The project is set to make Punjab a "Dairy Hub" besides boosting the income of dairy farmers. Commenting on the launch, Deputy Chief Minister said, “Cargill India’s latest investment with this environment friendly plant will put Punjab on a global map with other leading model dairy regions the world over. This initiative will equip local farmers with latest knowhow and help in implementing a reliable supply chain for dairy processing."
Calling the feed unit a milestone in crop persification plan in Punjab, Mr. Badal said Cargill had been running its units in more than 37 countries across the globe and now the company had targeted Punjab as the next investment destination in the dairy sector. The feed plant being setup up on 8.5 acres, would provide training to more than 20,000 farmers annually on dairy farming, farm management and animal nutrition.He added that the feed unit would produce feed about 1,20,000 MT annually and cater to the growing call for quality feed for dairy farmers of Punjab and neighbuoring states. "With the launching of Cargill unit in Punjab, its commitment for investment in Punjab would further give fillip to make Punjab a "Dairy Hub" in India", he said adding that as the state has already the highest milk availability of 944 grams per persons across the country.
The Deputy Chief Minister has also announced that multinational food processing company ITC was all set to start its operations in Punjab and that he would lay the foundation stone of country's biggest food processing unit at Kapurthala at a cost of Rs. 700 crore on February 28.On the occasion Mr Siraj Chaudhry, Chairman, Cargill India and Achyuth Iyengar, Managing Director said Cargill had a presence world over but the company had witnessed the fastest ever clearances in Punjab. He said the project's foundation stone was being laid within three months of the Deputy CM's visit to the company's corporate office in Delhi. He promised that the plant would start production in a year. Talking about the incentives given in the new industrial policy being implemented by the Punjab Government, Mr. Chaudhary said other states were eager to follow the footprints of Punjab in this sector.
The Deputy CM also laid the foundation stone of multi story housing project costing Rs. 450 crore at another function in the city. He said the State government was in the process of constructing one lakh dwelling units for economically weaker sections in the stare in the next two years. Adding further, he said the project had already been launched from Ludhiana as he had handed over the keys of a thousand houses to poor families recently. He also informed the gathering that a new ROB had been sanctioned by the Punjab Government on the Bathinda-Malout road at a cost of Rs. 40 crore.Later on interacting with media persons, Deputy Chief Minister said that the third front being formed by 11 parties for Lok Sabha elections had no future as these parties had only joining hands for gaining political mileage. "As many as seven parties have been supporting the UPA led Congress government at center. They have different ideologies and have no common minimum program", he added.
Badal said that it was a fact that whenever the "third front" emerged it had faced collapse even before the polls and now it's going to happen again. He said that there was a "Modi Wave" blowing in the country and the electorate had decided to 'crown' Mr. Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India, keeping in view his decisive and administrative leadership against the novice and immature Congress Vice President Mr. Rahul Gandhi.Replying to a query of the need to curb the supply of drugs from adjoining countries, Mr. Badal said this fell under the jurisdiction of the Union Government and the BSF was fully responsible to safeguard the borders of the country. Replying on the announcement of candidates by SAD for remaining Lok Sabha seats, Mr. Badal clarified that "there is no question of any difference regarding the selection of candidates with the SAD patron and Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal". He said the Chief Minister would take the final decision to announce the candidates in the coming days.Prominent amongst others present on the occasion included CPS Mr. Sarup Chand Singla, Media Advisor to Deputy CM Mr. Jangveer Singh and Special Principal Secretary to the Deputy CM Mr Manvesh Sidhu. EOM