The cold storage centre constructed at Gairabari, Ranigaun, Byas Municipality–11, Tanahun, has come into operation.

Byas Municipality has brought the centre into operation to protect and market the agricultural goods of farmers.

The municipality said that the centre was constructed considering the problems faced by farmers as vegetables and fruits would rot in the absence of a cold storage facility.

Mayor of Byas Municipality, Baikuntha Neupane, inaugurated the cold storage centre on Friday.

Neupane said that the municipality has operated the centre because agriculture was in its priority.

He expressed confidence that the cold storage would promote agricultural produce and keep them safe.

Farmers are happy to be able to store vegetables and fruits produced at any time and sell them at the time of their choice.

After the establishment of the cold store, it will be easy to store agricultural goods produced by the farmers in their own place.

Farmers said that now that the cold store is operational at their own place, there is hope that the products will not be wasted.

The cold store centre was built on three ropanis of land with joint investment from Gandaki Provincial Government and Byas Municipality.

The responsibility of construction was given to Devchuli Construction Company Pvt. Ltd.

For the construction of the cold storage, a contract agreement was signed with the construction company on September 1, 2021.

Bheshraj Tiwari, officer of planning branch of Byas Municipality, informed that the cold store with 130-metric-tonne capacity was built at a cost of Rs. 19,132,722.

The first phase of the construction was completed in October 16, 2023, and by mid-July, the second phase including compound, main gate, toilets, and other physical infrastructure had also been completed.

Although the building and infrastructure were completed earlier, Byas Municipality stated that the operation was delayed due to a hold-up in installing the electricity transformer.

By Amar Raj Naharki