Punjab is an agrarian state with wheat and paddy its main
crops. Over the last one decade the state is facing problem of plenty with
respect to these crops. The Union Government is laying stress on
diversification from wheat and paddy to other crops because of huge buffer
stock in the central pool. The State government has taken a policy decision to
cut substantial area under wheat and paddy. The area spared from these crops is
being diverted to horticulture besides other crops like gram, barley and
oilseeds. Area under horticulture in the state currently is only 2 per cent of
the total cropped area which can go up to 10 percent of the total. With this
target in mind the government has established five Citrus Estates in the State.
Apart from the diversification programme, these Estates are aimed at to
increase the production of citrus fruits (Kinnows particularly) and to improve
the quality of the crop. Each Estate will cater to the need of 20 kms area
around each. These Estates will have scientific centres, disease diagnostic and
preventive centres, knowledge dissemination centres, citrus nurseries and other
facilities. The Estates will have imported farm implements like orange pickers,
pruning saw and ladders.
Citrus Estate at Bhunga in District
Hoshiarpur is one of the five Estates in the state. The building accommodates
offices, entrance/exhibition hall, conference hall for 100 persons, stores and
toilets at ground floor and a guest room at first floor.
Since the building was to be
located in remote, rural areas, the design has been kept as simple as possible
with minimal elements for easy construction and subsequent maintenance. The
building is designed on the grid-iron-pattern with RCC frame structure having
columns at spacing of 5 metres on both the axes, except for multipurpose hall
where the spacing has been kept 5m x8m.The design of the building affords
adequate natural light and ventilation in all parts of the interiors making it
less dependent on artificial energy.
Externally the building is
finished in Spectrum paint. All the doors and windows are in aluminium and
flooring is in vitrified tiles. The design and outlook of the building is in
consonance with the latest trends in architecture. It proves architect’s endeavour
to move with time and to bring modern architecture to remote rural settings.