Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday wrote to the Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Radha Mohan Singh over the inordinate delay in the project to set up Post-Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education (PGIHRE) at Amritsar.

Chief Minister, in his letter, pointed out that the Punjab Government, after accepting the Central Government proposal, had transferred 100 acres of land at Attari, Amritsar and another 50 acres at Abohar for establishment of PGIHRE.

Notably, the Union Finance Minister had announced the setting up of a Post-Graduate Institute of Horticulture Research and Education (PGIHRE) in Punjab at Amritsar while presenting the Union Budget of 2015-16.

Later, as per their requirement, a team of Director of Agriculture Research and Education (DARE) or Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) had identified another 25-30 acres of additional land on Amritsar-Attari national highway for the purpose of establishing an administrative-cum-academic campus and student hostel.

However, in spite of repeated written and personal reminders, no confirmation was forthcoming from DARE or ICAR to enable the Punjab Government to acquire this expensive additional land in the interest of finalising and starting this prestigious project, added Capt Amarinder.

Seeking the Union Minister’s personal intervention, the Chief Minister said that the proposed state-of-the-art Institute of Horticulture, Research and Education should be made operational without any further delay, as it would go a long way in benefitting the state and the nation.

The Institute would also help motivate farmers to shift from traditional agriculture to horticulture to supplement their income, he added.