First solar-powered temp-controlled warehouse inaugurated in Singur

Singur: State Finance and Industry minister Amit Mitra on Monday inaugurated the first solar-powered temperature-controlled warehouse at Tapasi Malik Krishak Bazaar in Singur, which is the first of its kind in the country. The warehouse has been developed by a 92-year-old Japanese warehousing-cum-transportation logistics company Kawasaki Rikuso Transportation (KRT) that has is headquartered in Tokyo.

"Around 25 percent of the produce by farmers are wasted due to lack of warehouse facility. This compels him to sell his produce at a much lower price. This facility will keep vegetables fresh for six to seven days. The farmers will be able to store their produce and get price for it and at the same time, the consumers will also get fresh good and quality vegetables," state Agricultural Marketing minister Tapan Dasgupta said.

Speaking at the event, the state Finance minister urged the Japanese company to set up around 100 such warehouses in different parts of the state at an estimated cost of Rs 300 crore without cost of land.

"This warehouse has the capacity of storing 30 tonnes of vegetables per day," Mitra said.

KRT is already coming up with two such warehouses in North Bengal. The first one will be set up at the krishak bazaar in Phansidewa and another at Dhupguri.

There are plans to build 100 solar-powered warehouses with similar infrastructure in another five years with emphasis on North Bengal.

"Japan will be the partner country for the fourth time this year at the Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) scheduled to be held in February. Your success story in Singur should be showcased at the BGBS," Mitra said with Keiichi Higuchi, president, KRT seated on the dais.

State Panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee urged the state government to come up with a similar facility in Burdwan as it is a huge producer of vegetables.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Higuchi said his company will stay focused in Bengal as huge potential is there waiting to be explored and the state government has been supporting its efforts to modernise its existing farmers' markets across the state.

The KRT facility, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been made operational within three years of initial discussion.

JICA India chief representative Katsuo Matsumoto said a total of Rs 6 crore had been offered as grant from pre-feasibility study to project execution for setting up this facility.