Market intervention scheme for mango producers

The Himachal Pradesh government has decided to implement a market intervention scheme for mango producers with a view to ensure minimum price in the terminal markets for their produce and save their exploitation at the hands of middlemen. In its meeting held here on Wednesday,the Cabinet decided to procure “seedling” and “grafted” varieties of mango at the rate of Rs 4.58 and Rs 5.25 per kilo gram,respectively,from July 1 to August 15,2010. As many as 34 fruit procurement centres will be made functional in different mango belts. Procurement agencies will be entitled to get Rs 1.3 per kg as handling charges. Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal presided over the meeting.

The Cabinet has also granted permission to set up a pithead power plant by the Himachal EMTA Power Limited (HEPL),a joint venture of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) and Eastern Minerals and Trading Agency (EMTA),on getting a coal pithead allocated by the Union Ministry of Coal in West Bengal to generate 660 MW thermal power by investing about Rs 4,000 crore. The proposed plant will supplement the hydro power generation in the state.

It also granted approval to start ambulance services under the Emergency Medical Response and Transport System and enter into an agreement with the Emergency Management and Research Institute,Hyderabad,for the purpose. ENS