No threat to farmers from Reliance Fresh: Gaur

Jabalpur, June 30: Madhya Pradesh Commerce and Industries Minister Babulal Gaur today said opening up of Reliance Fresh stores would not jeopardise the interests of farmers and small traders.

''After opening up store in Indore, Reliance would open up stores in Bhopal and Jabalpur. Reliance proposes to start 18 wholesale vegetable shops in Indore and 11 in Bhopal besides Jabalpur and Gwalior,'' Mr Gaur told sources here.

On Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan's indication during recently-held agri-meet of not allowing Reliance Fresh to expand its business in Madhya Pradesh, Mr Gaur said the Chief Minister's opinion was not understood properly.

He said the government intended that Reliance and other such companies carried out their business without harming the interests of farmers and small traders. He said top priority would be accorded to protecting the interests of agriculturists.

The Commerce Minister said Reliance Fresh would play a different role in the market without interfering the retail vegetable market.

Besides, it would make better quality seeds and fertilisers available to farmers and teach better production techniques to them.

Later, Reliance would purchase these vegetables at appropriate price. Peasants would not be required to come to market for selling their produce and would not have to wait for payment.

Replying to a question, he said results of efforts for industrial development of Jabalpur was becoming visible now. The procedure for acquiring 400 acres of the Jawaharlal Nehru Agricultural University for expanding Richchai Adhartal industrial area would be completed soon.

Mr Gaur said ITC paper mills would be set up in Maneri near Jabalpur.

He added that several NRI industrialists, including from the US and Britain, would take part in the Global Investors Meet to be held in the state capital on October 26 and 27.

Besides several businessmen and industrialists from the country, FICCI and CII would also participate.

UNI