category Regional, chandigarh, , tags Regional, chandigarh, , DW BUREAU Chandigarh In a bid to promote the mushroom production for further encouraging the crop diversification thereby increasing the income of state farmers, Punjab Horticulture Minister S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra, on Friday, directed the departments concerned to address the issues of the mushroom growers on priority. Presiding over a meeting with the officials of eight concerned departments here at Punjab Bhawan, S. Chetan Singh Jauramajra also emphasized on the need to process surplus mushrooms to avoid high influx of mushrooms and low rates in the markets during the season. The Cabinet Minister stressed that mushroom production is connected to agriculture, hence it should be exempted from the provisions of the Factory Act. The action in this regard should be taken by expediting the process, directed the Cabinet Minister, while instructing Er. Dwarka Das, Deputy Director Factories, Labour Department to immediately submit a report by conducting physical verification of mushroom units in the state. The Cabinet Minister asked the Director Horticulture Mrs. Shailender Kaur that mushroom growers should also be brought under the scheme, wherein the subsidy is being given to the farmers for the installation of solar panels for cold stores. She was directed to immediately prepare and send this proposal to the government for further approval. Reffering to the demand of mushroom growers to supply power to their units at subsidized rates, S. Jauramajra asked the Deputy CE Power Mr. D.S. Toor to make arrangements in this regard and submit a report at the earliest. Deputy CE apprised the Minister that this matter is related to the PSTCL and he will soon contact the concerned authorities and discuss to take an appropriate decision in this regard. Similarly, the Horticulture Minister directed Mr. A.S. Sharma, Controller, Legal Metrology Wing of Food and Civil Supplies Department that since mushroom production is an occupation related to agriculture, provision should be made to exempt this occupation from the Legal Metrology Act of the Government of India. The Cabinet Minister also urged the mushroom growers to share their detailed demands in writing with related department officials. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Ms. Kanu Thind , Joint Director Industries, Mr. Vishwa Bandhu Joint Director, Ms. Poonam A.R. Joshi Additional LR and other officials. (editor dailyworld.in)