Idco submits DPR for Khurda sea food park to Centre

The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) has submitted the detailed project report (DPR) to the Centre seeking final nod for the proposed mega sea food park in Khurda district.

"The detailed project report has been submitted to the Union ministry of food processing industries seeking a grant of Rs 50 crore for the sea food park under the Mega Food Parks Scheme. The total project cost is pegged at around Rs 134 crore," said an Idco official.

Idco is nodal agency for implementation of the project, which had received in principle approval of the Centre in March this year along with 16 other new food parks across the country.

The Khurda park, spread over 152 acres of land, will create huge modern infrastructure for sea food processing and provide impetus to the growth of the sector.

"As many as 25 value added processing units are likely come up at the park entailing a total investment of Rs 500 crore. It will create employment opportunities for at least 5,000 people," said Gorachand Mohanty , President, Sea Food Exporters Association of India - Odisha region adding that Idco should initiate steps on mission mode to implement the project in time.

Odisha lacks value addition plants resulting in less realization of foreign exchange earnings from marine exports.

"Our plan is to achieve Rs 10,000 crore marine food exports in three years. The presence of processing plants is pivotal to attaining this objective. The exports of value added products would increase foreign exchange realisation by at least 20 per cent," Mohanty said.

In 2014-15, Odisha produced 4.67 lakh tonnes of fish, which is 13 per cent higher than the quantity achieved in the previous year. Similarly, the sea food exports from the state in 2014-15 were up by 26 per cent from 2013-14. In value terms, the sea food exports touched Rs 2,300 crore in the last fiscal.