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Despite lockdown, State set to export vegetables

By STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, April 26 - In a bid to check waste of agriculture produce amid the lockdown, the State government in collaboration with a private entity is planning to export vegetables grown by local farmers to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Kuwait City.

Transport and Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary today said the private entity has come with a proposal to export vegetables to these three West Asian cities by chartered flight. Discussions are under way with the Civil Aviation Ministry and Customs department, he said.

Patowary said the transport department is working in coordination with the food and civil supplies department to make available sufficient amount of food products in the State. The supply chain is working smoothly and there will be no scarcity of food, he said adding, �We are even supplying essential commodities to other northeastern states.�

He said during this difficult time, the transport department has been working with the Railways and so far 357 goods trains carrying essential commodities have been unloaded in 28 railway points in 18 districts.

To transport these commodities from the unloading sites, on an average about 1,500 trucks are being mobilised every day and so far 44,624 truck-trips have been made in the State to unload 357 railway rakes, with 31,435 man-day work of labourers.

Moreover, the FCI has brought 179 rakes of food items carrying 4.7 lakh MT of rice and 0.21 lakh MT of wheat. Out of these, 3.75 LMT of rice and 0.14 LMT of wheat are for Assam. Further, 21 more rakes carrying 0.27 LMT rice are en route to Assam.

�The ASTC has also been extending support to manage the situation arising from the pandemic in the State by providing 211 buses which are now operating in coordination with district administrations, hospitals, police and municipal bodies. Out of these 211 buses, 39 are operating with the health department facilitating the movement of health officials,� Patowary said.

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