Cabinet Minister Gurkirat Singh Kotli today laid the foundation stone of Markfed’s advance plant for Vanaspati and refined oil.The plant will be built with an estimated cost of Rs 23 crore.MLA Payal Lakhvir Singh Lakha, additional chief secretary Anurag Agarwal, Managing Director Markfed Varun Roojam, Zila Parishad chairman Yadwinder Singh Jandiali along with senior officials of Markfed were present at the occasion.Gurkirat Singh Kotli while interacting with the media persons stated that this plant will be built using an advanced technology which will ensure the production of quality oil. Also, the plant will increase the quantity of oil production in addition to giving employment to more people.“Markfed plant in Khanna is more than five decades old and it was the need of the hour to upgrade it.
Keeping in mind the strengthening of brand name and producing oil in accordance to the needs of the consumer, Punjab government has decided to build a plant equivalent to the capacity of a physical refinery which will produce 100 metric tonnes of Vanaspati and 110 metric tonnes of palm oil, added the minister. “Khanna plant will be complete in 15 months” the minister went on to add.The cabinet minister further stated that with the probability of increased capacity of oilproduction the state government is trying to collaborate with the governments of other states of India.At the same time the farmers in Punjab can make good benefits by processing the original oil seeds of Punjab and Markfed will make sure that these oil seeds are procured by them. This will give the farmers and the state respite from paddy farming.