The State government has proposed to set up a major vegetable and fruit market in a sprawling site in-between Omalur and Mecheri towns to enable the horticulture farmers of the district to market their produce at reasonable rate and earn increased revenue, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said here on Saturday.
The Omalur and Mecheri unions in the district accounted for a large number of horticulture farmers raising vegetables and fruits, which have good demand in the western districts and also in the neighbouring States.
Farmers suffer heavy financial loss, when they market the vegetables and fruits in lean seasons. The government will mitigate the suffering of these farmers by setting up a major market soon, Mr. Palaniswami said while speaking at a function to dedicate the Mecheri – Nangavalli comprehensive drinking water scheme to the public at Mecheri town.
The implementation of this scheme will provide potable drinking water to 405 habitations - 338 habitations in Mecheri union and 67 habitations in Nangavalli union.
The proposed market will also have cold storage facility. Farmers can store their fruits and vegetables in the cold storage free-of-cost during the lean season and market the same when they get reasonable price, he said.
The market will also have facilities for the stay of farmers, farm information and help centre, weighing facility, training centre etc. The government will also introduce e-trading facility in the proposed market, he said.
Mr. Palaniswami said the people of Mecheri, Omalur and Mettur areas have been expressing difficulty faced by them due to the presence of four railway level crossings in the Salem – Omalur – Mettur section. The government will allot adequate funds for the construction of flyovers to replace the level crossings at all the four points soon.
The government has proposed to set up an industrial estate in Ettikuttaimedu. Land acquisition has already been completed and the works on this project has commenced.
Speaking at another function at Vanavasi near Edappadi, Mr. Palaniswami said that all the major roads in the rural areas in the district have already been renovated. The work of relaying the rural roads was at present in progress.
Mr. Palaniswami said that Kolathur union though situated on the bank of River Cauvery was facing severe drinking water scarcity for the past many decades. On the demand made by S. Semmalai, MLA of Mettur constituency, the State government has sanctioned ₹7.7 crore for the supply of drinking water through pipelines to Kolathur union. The work on this project will commence soon, he added.
Rohini R. Bhajibhakare, District Collector, presided over the functions. Mr. Semmalai, and V. Panneer Selvam, MP, spoke on the occasion.
The Chief Minister distributed welfare assistance under various government schemes to a large number of beneficiaries belonging to weaker sections at both the functions.
