Officials said the board - the government entity responsible for developing vegetable and fruits market - is all set to buy 23 ropanis of land in Chobhar and 4.5 ropanis in Dhading from another government entity Krishi Chun Karkhana. [break]
A cabinet meeting held in January last year had decided to sell the land to the board at the cost of Rs 100.79 million to enhance the capacity of the board for proper management of transaction and movement of agro-products, mainly vegetables, fruits, fishes and fruits at the Kalimati market.
“We will utilize the new land to build storehouse for dry vegetables such as onion, garlic, potatoes and gingers and to develop a collection center for fruits and vegetables, keeping in view the problems faced in managing the Kalimati wholesale market due to ever increasing flow of vegetables,” Tulsi Gautam, chief of the board, told myrepublica.com on Sunday.
Kalimati market, the largest wholesale market in the country, has been dealing with over 80 percent of total vegetables and significant chunk of fruits, fishes and spices sold in the capital. Over 600 tons of vegetables, fruits, fishes and spices arrive in the market every day on normal days.
Established in 1986, the market has been expanded as key the marketplace in the capital with 400 wholesale shops, 80 retail shops and 26 vegetable co-operatives.
“We felt it necessary to develop and expand fruits and vegetables wholesale market in other places for the proper management of the Kalimati market, given the limited space available here. We will also develop necessary infrastructure in the proposed places,” said Gautam.
He also hoped that problems in transporting vegetables and fruits through core areas of the Valley will come to an end once the proposed market comes into operation. Gautam further informed that the board was thinking of utilizing 108 ropanis of land in Bhaktapur and 137 ropanis in Kirtipur owned by Nepal Trust and Tribhuvan University respectively.
“If we succeed in acquiring the land in Bhaktapur and Kirtipur, local farmers will benefit a lot. Likewise, movement of vehicle carrying fruits and vegetable will also reduce significantly,” Gautam added.
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