Punjab sets up board for agriculture, horticulture promotion
Darpan News Desk IANS, 16 Aug, 2021 12:12 PM
Chandigarh, Aug 16 (IANS) To promote agriculture and horticulture in the state by boosting the crop diversification programme, the Punjab cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, on Monday approved the merger of Punjab Agro Juices Ltd (PAJL) with the Punjab Agri Export Corp Ltd (PAGREXCO).
The Cabinet approved the proposal of the Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Department for the merger as per the recommendations of the Board of Directors of PAGREXCO and PAJL and the officers' committee headed by the Chief Secretary.
The merged entity would be called Punjab Agri Export Corp Ltd, an official spokesperson said after the Cabinet meeting, which also authorized the Managing Director, Punjab Agro Industries Corporation Ltd (PAIC), to perform all such acts and deeds which are necessary for the implementation of the merger scheme and to make the merger scheme effective.
The merger would lead to better utilisation of resources of the PAJL with the PAGREXCO, creation of synergy, better economies of scale, expansion of operations, stronger farmer connect with forward and backward linkages, common branding and marketing to have a better consumer outreach, which will ultimately benefit the farmers and the agriculture sector of the state.
As per the merger terms and conditions, the new entity is envisaged as a company, and the entire decision making would be vested in the Board of Directors.
The Chairman of the merged entity will be an eminent horticulturist with experience in agribusiness.
The Board of Directors shall be appointed based their professional competencies from the areas of horticulture, marketing, finance, etc.
Rejecting all opposition to his elevation, Congress interim President Sonia Gandhi appointed Navjot Singh Sidhu as the party's new Punjab unit President along with four Working Presidents.
Calling the reports of alleged snooping on prominent citizens using Israeli Pegasus spyware as "baseless", the ruling BJP on Monday said there is not a single shred of evidence so far that links either the central government or the party to this controversy.
Congress MPs from both Houses had met on Sunday afternoon at Rajya Sabha member Pratap Singh Bajwa's residence to discuss the issues related to Punjab and sought an appointment with Gandhi.
Apart from reviewing the security arrangements in the national capital, the Delhi Police have also strengthened the security in and around the Red Fort ahead of the Independence Day.
Police said acting on a specific information, Budgam Police along with the Army's 53 RR and 43 BN of the CRPF arrested one local terrorist linked with proscribed terror outfit LeT and recovered incriminating materials, arms and ammunition including one Chinese pistol, one magazine, eight live pistol rounds from his possession.
As the Pegasus spyware scandal unravelled within and outside Parliament, he termed it a "shocking assault" on India's democratic polity by the Union government, which had compromised the national security with "this blatantly disgraceful act".
