CM reviews plans on developing Growth Centres

By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 3 Jan: The concept of Growth Centres envisaged by Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has started reflecting on the ground, it has been claimed. The World Bank has agreed to fund the Growth Centres. There are funds available from NABARD as well. The work of developing turmeric and chilli cluster by Amotha Agri-Business Growth Centre is being started in the Ekeshwar block of Pauri Garhwal by the Watershed Management Department. Semar Agri-Business Growth Centre in Ekeshwar Block, Naali (Falait) Agri-Business Growth Centre in Dhauladevi block, Agri-Business Growth Centre in Gram Panchayat Thano in Raipur, Agri-Business Growth Centre in Kapkot, Agri-Business Growth Centre in Punah Pokhari (Charkarta) and Khariasi Agri-Business Growth Centre in Jaunpur Development Block will be functional by March month of this financial year.
The Chief Minister instructed at a meeting today that the vacant school buildings and Patwari posts should be used as Growth Centres.
Five IT-based Growth Centres are being developed in the state by Information Technology Development Agency. Three are being set up in Garhwal and two in Kumaon Division. ITDA is establishing a rural BPO in remote areas in the state.
The Chief Minister directed that wool should be certified as an organic product in the hill areas of Uttarakhand. The Chief Conservator of Forests informed that the systematic collection of Keeda-Jadi in Dharchula, Bageshwar and Joshimath would be started soon. He ordered that the area of Pirul aggregation should be identified so that there is no dispute for people getting licenses in the future. Secretary MSME informed that so far about fifty proposals have been received in this regard. Work on possibility of making resin from Pirul will be undertaken. A Growth Centre based on the production of bamboo and fiber products will be started in Pipalkoti.
The Chief Conservator of Forests informed that out of 1300 species of birds found in the world, 700 species were found in Uttarakhand. Bird watching tourist spots would soon being developed by the forest department to attract tourists.
The CM said that 12000 Van Panchayats had good potential for commercial use of forest products. The processing of traditional honey being made in the homes of Pindar Valley, Ukhimath and Jaunsar could be done at local level. The opening 25 sales outlets of Uttarakhand products in New Delhi had been discussed with New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) Chairman.
Four Growth Centres of cluster-based trout fish farming of the Fisheries Department and Carp Fish Farming in Haridwar would start by March. Mandwa, Jhangora and Chaulai Production Cluster were being developed in Pitrasen of Thalisain of Pauri Garhwal, Maroda of Pavo and Mandgaon of Narendranagar of Tehri Garhwal. Proposals on three weaving-based Growth Centres for sericulture would be decided within a week.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary Utpal Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary Manisha Panwar, Secretary RK Sudhanshu and Secretary Amit Negi.