With cotton growers in Punjab on a warpath against the State Government over recent losses suffered due to whitefly attack on their crop, the Union Textiles Ministry on Sunday directed the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) to immediately begin purchase of cotton in the state at minimum support price (MSP).
Union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar gave these directions to the CCI after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal met him in New Delhi.
Gangwar directed the CCI chairman-cum-managing director BK Mishra to rush to Chandigarh on Monday and work out the modalities for the purchase of cotton in Punjab. He asked Mishra to hold discussions with Additional Chief Secretary (Development) and the Markfed managing director to work out the modalities for the purchase of cotton to CCI without any further delay.
As for relaxation in cotton procurement norms in the wake of extensive damage to cotton crop due to the recent pest attack in Malwa region of Punjab, the Union Minister asked Badal to send a comprehensive proposal to the Ministry.
Gangwar assured Badal that he would get the proposal examined from CCI before taking a call on relaxing the prescribed parameters or norms for the purchase of cotton, in view of the prevailing weather conditions and there effects on the quality of cotton.
Growers in Punjab are up in arms after nearly 60 per cent cotton crop in the State was destroyed by whitefly pest this year.
On Punjab’s demand for opening of skill development centre in the textile sector in Punjab, Gangwar asked the Chief Minister to forward a detailed proposal in this regard. He assured Badal that the Textile Ministry was open to help the states inclined to develop textile industry under the existing schemes.
Badal also urged Gangwar to initiate steps expeditiously for revival of sick unit of Dhariwal Woolen Textile Mills at Dhariwal in Gurdaspur district, which had been closed down for the past several years, as this mill had a huge potential for employment generation in the border areas of the region.