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Bengal cold storages seek industry status

Our Bureau

CALCUTTA, Dec. 24

THE West Bengal Cold Storage Association has urged the State Government to accord industry status to cold storages. The association also wants insurance companies to fix an average insurance premium for the stored goods.

This was stated here by Mr S.M. Jain, President of the association, while addressing its 36th AGM. Mr Jain contended that an industry status would help cold storage owners to access institutional funds. There are about 300 cold storages in West Bengal an d they are used mostly for storing potatoes.

He also urged the State Government to amend the West Bengal Cold Storage (Licensing & Regulation) Act, 1966. The Union Government has already done away with licensing of cold storages ; but in the State, licensing is still in vogue.

``Over the years, there have been vast changes in the methods of cultivation, harvesting and preservation of potatoes as also technical know-how. The changes necessitate suitable amendments to the provisions of the act'', Mr Jain said.

He urged insurance companies to fix an average premium for all the storage owners on the expected price of potatoes. Recently, cold storage owners had a meeting with the State Government and farmers' association with the intention of taking up the matter jointly with insurance companies. The intention was to have the disparities removed.

Mr Biren Moitra, the West Bengal Minister for Agriculture Marketing, supported the demands raised by the association. He said that he would try to get industry status for cold storage before the next Assembly elections.