HARYANA GETS INDIA'S FIRST MULTIPURPOSE IRRADIATION FOOD PARK See second story for more info on irradiation in India - apparently widespread - Ed. Hindustan Times May 1, 2005 CHANDIGARH, India, May 1 -- The Government of Haryana issued the following press release: The Haryana Chief Minister, Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda today inaugurated Nation's First Multipurpose Irradiation Food Park at Bahalgarh in Sonepat district. Mr. Subodh Kant Sahai, Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries was also present on this occasion. Speaking as the Chief Guest in the function, the Chief Minister said that this new ambitious project would prove a boon for the exporters and professionals associated with health care, farmers as well as the consumers. He said that the agricultural products, food items, vegetables, fruits, onions, potatoes, pulses, basmati rice, wheat, flour, mutton and other edibles would be preserved by using irradiation technology at this project. This new technology would prove beneficial for the farmers, besides generating employment opportunities for the youth of the State. Mr. Hooda urged the industrialists to set up their industrial units in the State. He said that new industrial policy was being announced by the State Government on May 30 and a number of incentives and concessions for the development of industries in general and for food and processing industry in particular would be offered to the entrepreneurs. He announced that a modern food and vegetable market would be set up at a cost of Rs. 80 crore. A cold chain complex would also be set up in this town at a cost of Rs. 200 crore. Mr. Hooda urged the Union Minister of State for Food Processing Industries to set up in Haryana one of the 4-5 mega food processing parks being set up in the country and the Minister gave a positive response to this demand. Mr. Subodh Kant Sahai complemented M/s Vardan Agrotech Private Limited for setting up this new irradiation project in a progressive State of Haryana. He said that Haryana was a trendsetter State in the field of agriculture production in the country. He said that the Central Government was committed to develop the food processing industry in the country and a grant of Rs. four to five crore would be given as a financial assistance for setting up a food park for the quality preservation of agricultural products. Mr. Sahai lamented that our food and agricultural products worth Rs. 50,000 crore got perished per annum in lack of quality preservation and cold storage facilities. Setting up of such new irradiation food parks would not only help in preserving the food items, but also provide employment opportunities to the youth, besides enhancing the income of the farmers. Hindustan Times May 10, 2005 ONE YEAR OF UPA GOVERNMENT: MAJOR DECISIONS AND INITIATIVES - ATOMIC ENERGY NEW DELHI, India, May 10 -- The office of the Prime Minister of India issued the following press release: The UPA Government completes one year on May 21, 2005. During this period, the Government has taken several important initiatives. Some of these are being brought out in the series 'Major Decisions and Initiatives'. The Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) continues to pursue its mandate of exploiting nuclear energy for power and non power purposes. ... KRUSHAK (Krushi Utpadan Surakshan Kendra), a low dose radiation processing plant at Lasalgaon, near Nasik in Maharashtra processing onions, pulses, rawa and turmeric; and a high dose radiation processing plant at Vashi, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra processing spices are in operation. MoUs have been signed for multi-product irradiators with 13 (with one in the co-operative sector) entrepreneurs. Five private sector commercial Gamma Irradiation Plant in the eastern region set up by M/s Organic Green Foods Ltd., Kolkata was commissioned in August 2004. Three more plants are expected to be commissioned in this year.