Union food processing minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal has asked Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh to instruct officials to issue statutory permissions for two cold chain projects sanctioned for Punjab which have been inordinately delayed. The Union minister in a letter to the chief minister in this context, said both cold chain projects had the potential to generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs for youth and ensure enhanced prices to farmers. “The apathy of State government functionaries in not granting the required statutory permissions on time is a cause of concern as delaying the projects deprives the farmers and youth of the benefits that they are likely to get as a result of early operationalisation of these projects”. Giving details, Mrs Badal said the Ministry of Food Processing Industries had sanctioned two cold chain projects in Punjab in April, 2017. She said these projects - EBI Cremica Industries Pvt. Ltd., Jalandhar and Asianlak Health Foods Pvt. Ltd., Ludhiana were required to submit claim for release of first instalment grant alongwith all the statutory clearances within eight months from the date of issue of approval. She said this deadline had already expired in December, 2017. While Cremica Industries has not been granted CLU (change of land use), Asianlak Health Foods has applied for consent from Punjab Pollution Control Board.Asking the chief minister to expedite the needed approvals, Mrs Badal said both projects would go a long way in uplifting the economic condition of farmers by adding value to their produce as well as creating much needed jobs for youth. EOM