Odisha Govt To Set Up 58 Cold Storages As Chit Fund Firm Entrusted With Task Failed: Dy CM Informs Assembly

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has been unable to develop cold storage infrastructure as the job was entrusted to a chit fund company in the past, the state Assembly was informed on Wednesday.

Answering a question by Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Rama Chandra Kadam, Deputy Chief Minister K V Singh Deo said that the state government has decided to set up cold storages in all 58 sub-divisions of the state for the benefit of farmers.

Singh Deo, who also holds the Agriculture portfolio, said that provisions have been made in the budget for establishment of 58 cold storages across the state in PPP mode for safe preservation of perishable farm produces and vegetables.

Further steps will be taken after assessment of the performance once these cold storages are established, the Deputy CM said.

Stating that the need for having adequate number of cold storages in the state had earlier been discussed in the House, he said cold storage development work was given to a chit fund company earlier and everyone is aware of the result.

He said the government has planned to open one cold storage in each sub-division of the state as a first step. Since the farmers’ major problem was storing their perishable produce, this would be helpful for them.