Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, January 17, 2025: Punjab Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Development Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian today laid the foundation stone of Anaj Mandi to be constructed on 5 acres of land at Saneta village in Mohali. He said that this Mandi will be built at a cost of Rs 2.5 crore, which will be completed in 6 months.
Addressing a huge crowd of people of the area after laying the foundation stone, Minister Khudian said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's government has given a big relief to the farmers of more than 20 villages of the area by approving the construction of this Mandi. He said that earlier due to the absence of Mandi in Saneta, the crops were brought to the roadside for sale. When this matter was brought to his notice by MLA Kulwant Singh, he immediately directed the officials of Punjab Mandi Board to remove all the obstacles coming in the way of construction of Mandi at Saneta and start it immediately.
Cabinet Minister Khudian said that today a big demand of the area has been fulfilled. He congratulated the Panchayat for giving the Panchayat land of Saneta village on collector rate in the year 2011. He said that three auction platforms (high places for bidding), a big shed, 71 shops and booths, water tank and disposal will be prepared in this Mandi. He said that earlier 60000 quintals of paddy and 33000 quintals of wheat were registered for this Mandi, which will now become a place for arrival of more commodities with the construction of the new Mandi. He said that this Mandi will also give great relief to the urban area from the traffic problem during the season.
He said that we are sincerely ensuring the availability of good seeds and quality fertilizers in Punjab. Expressing disagreement with the new marketing policy of the Center, the Agriculture Minister said that unless the prices of grains increase in the market, the farmer cannot keep the crop at home for a long time. He said that there are more than 1800 Mandis/Procurement Centers in Punjab, which cannot run with this new system, so the Bhagwant Mann government of Punjab does not agree with this new marketing policy in the interest of farmers.
He said that the Center should not get into a confrontation with the farmers and should accept their demands. Keeping in mind the health of farmer leaders like Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who are on hunger strike, the demands of the farmers should be considered seriously. Councilor Sarabjit Singh Samana, while welcoming Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khudian on behalf of MLA Kulwant Singh, said that the establishment of Saneta Mandi was a big problem and challenge for the area, the construction of which has been started today by the Bhagwant Mann government and a big gift has been given to the area. He demanded that after the Mandi, the work on the newly constructed hospital building at Saneta should also be started soon, which the Agriculture Minister assured to give to the Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh. He also inspected the PHC building himself. In his brief address on this occasion, AAP Punjab spokesperson Harsukhinder Singh Babbi Badal said that Agriculture Minister Khudian appreciated the decision of the Bhagwant Mann government to refuse to implement the new draft of agricultural mandis suggested by the Center. Secretary Punjab Mandi Board Mr Ramveer, ADC (D) Sonam Chaudhary, Joint Commissioner Municipal Corporation Dipankar Garg, AAP Punjab spokesperson Harsukhinder Singh Babbi Badal, Councillor Sarabjit Singh Samana, Engineer-in-Chief Mandi Board Jatinder Singh Bhanghu, Chief Engineer Mandi Board Gurinder Singh Cheema, Executive Engineer Sukhwinder Singh, GM Mandi Board Manjit Singh Sandhu, District Mandi Officer Gagandeep Singh, PA to Agriculture Minister Surinder Singh and Sarpanch Gurdev Singh, former Sarpanch Bhagat Ram and Sanjeev Kumar and all Panchayat members Saneta and a large number of people of the area were present.