British authorities have promised Punjab Government to explore possible measures to help in its efforts in water conservation and other critical areas of concern.
The assurance was given by the British High Commissioner Sir Dominic Asquith and Deputy High Commissioner Andrew Ayre who called upon Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to discuss cooperation with the state government in the promotion of agriculture and allied fields.
Capt Amarinder has sought support from the British envoys’ for his government’s efforts towards conservation of the fast depleting ground water table in the state. “Agriculture is a major casualty in Punjab, once the food bowl of India, as a result of the vanishing ground water,” he pointed.
Chief Minister pointed that his government was working on various measures to conserve and ensure judicious use of groundwater, and any innovative suggestions to boost the ground water level would be welcome.
The visiting envoys expressed that their country was interested in collaborating with the state government in key areas of agriculture, skill development, food processing and cold chain development.
They evinced interest in making significant investments in these fields, which the Chief Minister welcomed.
Capt Amarinder directed the state government officials to work closely with their counterparts in the British government to take forward the discussion on boosting business cooperation between Punjab and the United Kingdom on subjects of mutual interest.
Another area in which the visiting delegation showed keen interest was dairy farming, which the Chief Minister said that his government was striving to promote in a big way as an alternative source of income for the beleaguered farmers of the State.