Agartala: The Government of Tripura has planned to spend a sum of over Rs 167 crore for infrastructure development of markets meant for trading of agricultural goods, Tripura Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Department Minister Ratan Lal Nath has said.
According to Nath, the total number of agricultural markets in Tripura stands at 554.
“Among the 554 markets, 84 are primary wholesale markets and 21 are Agri-Produce Markets. Rest of 470 markets fall under the category of Primary Markets or Rural Markets. Under the financial assistance of NABARD, the state government has taken up multiple projects for infrastructure development in 86 selected markets based on the priority. A sum of Rs 167 core 11 lakh 90 thousand had been allocated for this purpose,” the Minister said while inaugurating the new market stalls at Kanchanbari rural mart.
The new two storey market shed was built at a cost of Rs 2 crore 28 lakh 86 thousand, the Minister added.
Stating that spending on Rural Infrastructure Development Projects (RIDF) was negligible when the Left was in power, he said, “If compared with the five years of Left rule (2013 to 2018) only Rs 20 crore was spent under this head.”
Citing preconditions for approval of the project, he said, “Any proposal for the development of a market must include detailed descriptions of the proposed land and the necessary documentation. Currently, To improve these agricultural markets spread across different parts of the state, the Department of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare has been taking various initiatives. Infrastructure development works in these markets include construction of sheds, stalls, toilets, drinking water facilities, and drainage systems.”