Chandigarh, August 11:
In a bid to tackle the perennial problem of water logging and soil salinity in the Malwa region, Punjab Chief Minister Mr. Parkash Singh Badal today gave a green signal to an innovative integrated agribusiness pilot project to be implemented by M/s. Nasa Agro Industries Ltd. at Sajrana (Ferozepur district).
A decision to this effect was taken by the Chief Minister after going through a detailed presentation by Managing Director, NASA Agro Industries Ltd. Mr. Sanjeev Nagpal here this morning. It was informed in the meeting that this Rs.82 Crore project would involve development of fish farms on waste lands, setting up of biogas plants based on paddy straw and setting up of Centre of Excellence for the standardization of food processing technologies and M/s. Nasa Agro Industries Ltd. would implement this project through M/s. SAMPURAN Agri Ventures Pvt. Ltd. in which M/s. Kirloskar Integrated Techology Ltd. and Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation (PAIC) would also be stakeholders.
Expressing concern over the soil degradation and water logging in the areas of Muktsar, Ferozepur and Faridkot districts, Mr. Badal said that at present 1,25,000 hactre land was facing this problem that had aggravated the plight of the farmers and government was keen to launch a project at war footing to tackle this problem. Mr. Sanjeev Nagpal, Managing Director, Nasa Agro Industries Ltd. gave a detailed presentation on the concept of the project. It is proposed to bring 200 acres of land belonging to farmers under fish farming, 50 acres owned by Mr. Sanjeev Nagpal for setting up of Centre of Excellence and another 100 acres for development of food processing industry. M/s. DHV of Netherlands would provide technology for desalination of water.
The representative of M/s. DHV – Mr. Ashish Katoch informed that the proposed technology is in operation for last 25 years in Netherlands . Mr. Deepak Palwangar, Head Marketing, Kirloskar informed that his company has done pioneering work in the field of processing of paddy straw into biogas. He further informed that in the pilot project it is proposed to generate power to the extent of 5 MW from paddy straw, which will be supplied to the upcoming food processing industry in the proposed industry belt. The residue from the power plant would be converted into compost, which would be available at 2/3rd price of chemical fertilizers. The effluent from the digester of bio-gas plant would be further treated for conversion into valued added products like silica, lignin and cattle feed.
Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. DS Guru, Financial Commission Development Mr. NS Kang, Additional Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Mr. Gagandip Singh Brar, MD Punjab Agro-Industries Corporation Mr. SK Sandhu and Director Agriculture Mr. Balwinder Singh Sidhu.