Imphal, November 21: The State Bank of India (SBI) has assured to extend a loan of Rs 70 lakhs towards expansion and development of Passion Fruit Processing Plant at Punanamei, Mao.

This assurance was given by an official team of the bank during a joint meeting with Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at Raj Bhavan this morning before the latter wrapped up his two-day visit to the State.

The six-member team of the bank was led by its Assistant General Manager, NE Circle.

Managing Director of the Fruit Processing Plant Daikho Mao was also present during the meeting.

The bank officials also gave the assurance for giving support assistance to over 1000 farmers who would be considered for contract farming of growing the Passion fruits to feed the plant.

During the meeting, the Managing Director of the Fruit Processing Plant named as Exotic Juice Pvt Ltd, presented a detailed report to the PM on the present state of the Plant.

The Managing Director also told the Prime Minister about the preparation being made for setting up a Bio Gas Power Plant to providing the required power in running the Plant.

A team of PMO officials and Minister of State for Food Processing Prithiviraj Chavan, who were also presented during the meeting reportedly expressed keen interest to develop the Plant and promised to visit and inspect the plant very soon.

It may be mentioned here that the Plant was to be inaugurated by the PM during his visit.

But as the State Govt was not in a position to arrange adequate security measures, the proposed inauguration of the Plant was cancelled.

Even if the Plant has not been formally inaugurated, it would start functioning, Managing Director Daikho told The Sangai Express.

The only problem being faced by the Plant is lack of adequate power supply, he added.

To overcome this difficulty, a 5-KV back-up power generator over and above the existing 200 KV would be installed very soon, he informed.

The fruit processing plant has the capacity of extracting two metric tonne of Passion fruit or orange juice in an hour and 16 metric tonne in a day and 3200 metric tonne in a year.

Comment