4 yrs on, horticulture institute in Amritsar a non-starter

AMRITSAR : Proposed by late finance minister Arun Jaitley in the Union budget 2015-16, Post Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education (PGIHRE) in Amritsar remains a non-starter. The Centre had decided to set up PGIHRE in the holy city with the help of state government and the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR).

Following the Centre’s announcement, Punjab government in 2016 allotted 100 acres land at Attari, Amritsar, for setting up the institute.

On the directions of director of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) and ICAR, the state government in 2017 identified another 10-acre land at Dhaul Kalan along Amritsar-Attari national highway (NH) for an administrative-cum-academic campus and student hostel.

The ICAR was to set up a mixed fruit orchard at the proposed 100acre land at Attari and the administrative block at Dhaul Kalan.

“This year, we received instructions to identify more land near Amritsar. After talking to farmers, we recently identified another 30 acres of land at Chhiden village near Attari. The details of identified land have been sent to Punjab government for procurement and now the Centre and ICAR have the option of multiple sites for the proposed horticulture institute,” said Baaj Singh, deputy director of horticulture department.

Once established, the institute will help boost crop diversification in the entire state.

The institute will also motivate the farmers to shift from traditional agriculture to horticulture, which will supplement their income through variety of crops.

“The project has been unnecessarily delayed by the Centre and state governments. Despite identifying land at several sites, the government is yet to finalise land for the institute. It has already been four years. Wonder, how much time it will take to set up the campus,” said Kulwant Singh, patron of Amritsar Vikas Manch.

He said once established, the institute will bring revolution in the field of horticulture in Punjab. “The researchers will help farmers come out of wheat-paddy vicious circle. It will promote drip irrigation and other effective modes of irrigation. The institute will also generate jobs in the state,” he added. When asked about the status of the project, SDM (Amritsar 2) Shivraj Bal said, “The district administration has sent the proposed sites to the state government for procurement. The ICAR is yet to finalise the land for the project. Once land is finalised, ICAR will set a budget and start construction work of the project.”

The district administration has sent the proposed sites to state government for procurement. Once land is finalised, ICAR will set a budget and start construction work

SHIVRAJ BAL , SDM