Berhampur, April 2: Efforts have been initiated for revival of the Berhampur Multipurpose Co-operative Cold Storage at Ambapua.

The cold storage, constructed 29 years ago, is the only one in Ganjam district managed by the co-operation department.

It has been lying defunct since the past 14 years.

Deputy registrar of co-operative societies (Berhampur division) Raghab Rao said this cold storage, commissioned in 1986 with a storage capacity of 2,000 metric tonnes, had an accumulated loss of Rs 44.65 lakh against total asset of Rs 41.09 lakh and total liability of Rs 85.74 lakh.

"Over Rs 2, 92 lakh is outstanding towards electricity dues from December 2001," said Rao.

In 2000, it had been leased out for a period of five years to a private operator, who abandoned the unit after one year as it failed to manage it properly.

Again in 2010, it had been leased out to another private trader for a period of 12 years from November 3, 2010 - which also failed to run the unit on the plea of not getting bank loan.

"I have advised the managing director of the cold storage to rescind the lease agreement," said Rao.

Deputy director, horticulture, Bhagaban Dash said there was a potential for potato cultivation at Jagannathprasad, Hinjili and other blocks in Ganjam district in large scale.

"If the cold storage is revived, this will definitely motivate the farmers to cultivate potato in large scale, and this, in turn, would help in stability of price," said Dash.

About 2,000 farmers produced more than 1,000 metric tonnes of potato in Ganjam district this year. "But, we are having only one active cold storage at Aska Road with a capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes - which is managed privately," said the deputy director.

"Vegetables, which are grown abundantly in this district more than the demand, should be preserved in the cold storage managed by the co-operation department at a reasonable rate," said Pramod Rath a farmer having more than 50 acres of cultivable land.

The vegetables, not grown in the district, can also be brought from outside and preserved here to meet the consumers' requirements.

"Thus the producers can get fair price of their yield, and it will also tackle distress sale of any commodity," he said.