1,224 acres earmarked for food parks

The Orissa government has earmarked 1,224 acres of land in Khurda, Cuttack and Bhadrak districts for setting up of food parks in Public Private Partnership(PPP) mode.

"The state government has identified 282 acres in Mallipada, Khurda, 242 acres in Dhamnagar, Bhadrak and 700 acres along the river Mahanaid in Banki of Cuttack district for setting up of food parks on PPP mode as per the guidelines of the Centre”, said Ananga Das, Consultant, Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation of Orissa (Idco).

While the Centre has given approval for a mega food park in Khurda, efforts are on to rope in the private developer to develop the infrastructure facilities on PPP mode, said the Idco official on the sidelines of Buyer-Seller meet on Food Processing organized by Confederation of Indian Industry, here, on Friday.

Das said, Nestle India is keen to set up a production unit in the state for which they have discussed with the Chief Minister Naveen Pattnaik and Chief Secretary Bijay Patnaik, but the official confirmation from the company is still awaited.

The proposed mega food park in the tribal dominated Rayagada district has received in principle approval of the Centre.

The state based MITS group will build this park with Idco taking up a stake of 18 percent in the form of land and infrastructure. MITS group will hold majority 51 per cent stake.

He said, the state has no food processing policy unlike Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.

It may be noted that the Centre proposes to set up 30 mega food parks during the 11th Plan across the country. Each park is being provided a grant of Rs 50 crore.