Chief Minister Prof. Prem Kumar Dhumal affirms Government Engineering College at Pragati Nagar in Jubbal-Kotkhai assembly segment and said that foundation-stone will be laid shortly. He was addressing a large deputation led by Narinder Bragrta, Horticulture and Technical Education Minister and MLA from Jubbal-Kotkhai Assemgly segment and consisting of thousands of people from all walks of life accompanied by traditional musical instruments, who called on the Chief Minister to thank him for sanctioning Engineering College, ITI at Tikkar and improvement of Gumma-Baagi road, in the Vidhan Sabha complex here today. Chief Minister said that State Government had decided to open one self-contained engineering college in Government sector in the rural area at Pragati-Nagar which would be named after the great visionary leader of the country former Prime Minister, Shri Atal Behari Vajpayee and would be the third of its kind in the country. He said that the college would have facilities of engineering college, polytechnic and ITI courses under one complex and courses upto B.Tech level would be taught to the students. He said that the complex would be developed on the analogy of Sant Longowal Engineering College in Punjab and emerge a centre of excellence in imparting vocational education.
Prof. Dhumal said that quality infrastructural facilities in the college complex would be developed by Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Ltd. where best of the educational aids would be available to the students. He said that the foundation-stone had also been laid to develop a self contained modern marketing yard at Parala close to Pragati Nagar where best and modern marketing facilities would be available to apple growers. He said that it had also been decided to connect Parala marketing yard with dedicated Horticulture road to directly transport produce to different marketing terminals outside the State. He said that Rs. 100 crore detailed project report had been prepared and work started on the project to facilitate the growers in marketing their produce to traders from different parts of the country at their door steps and save them from falling prey to the middlemen in metropolitan markets. He said that the State Government had also decided to develop another agriculture marketing yard to facilitate the growers of lower areas as well so that they could sell their produce locally conveniently. He reiterated the resolve of the State to protect interests of horticulturists.
