HP Govt Offers 70% Subsidy for Cold Storage, Freeze-Dry

Shimla, Aug 9 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh government will provide a 70 per cent subsidy to eligible beneficiaries for establishing 5-metric-tonne cold storages, freeze-dry units and refrigerated vans across the state, officials said on Sunday.

The approved unit cost has been fixed at Rs 15 lakh for a 5 MT cold storage, Rs 10 lakh for a freeze-dry unit and Rs 20 lakh for a refrigerated van.

The scheme will benefit Fish Farmers Producer Organisations (FFPOs), Fish Cooperative Societies, entrepreneurs, unemployed youth, self-help groups, individual fishermen, fish vendors and fish farmers, officials said.

Applicants seeking assistance for setting up cold storage facilities will be required to possess suitable land or space, either owned or held on a long-term lease of at least 10 years.

Preference for establishing freeze-dry units will be given to existing fish vendors. Applicants seeking assistance for refrigerated vans will be required to possess or arrange a qualified commercial driver.


The scheme will be implemented by the Fisheries Department.

Cold storages and freeze-dry units will be inspected at the stages of site preparation, machinery installation and trial run.

Refrigerated vans will have to be registered with the Himachal Pradesh Transport Department before release of the final subsidy instalment.

The subsidy will be released through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) following successful completion and verification of the assets.

To ensure proper utilisation of public funds, beneficiaries will be required to keep the subsidised facilities functional for a minimum of seven years. The subsidised assets cannot be sold, leased, transferred or modified without prior approval of the Fisheries Department. Quarterly functionality reports and random inspections will also be conducted to monitor the proper utilisation and functioning of the infrastructure.

Priority will be accorded to new beneficiaries, particularly unemployed youth, fishermen cooperative societies and FPOs, with an aim to promote entrepreneurship, generate employment and strengthen the blue economy of Himachal Pradesh.