Punjab approves to set up Rs 150-crore mega food park at Ludhiana

The CM has asked Punjab Agro Industries Corporation to finalise the Detailed Project Report regarding the proposed food park at the earliest

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today gave in-principle approval for setting up a Rs 150-crore mega food park at Ladowal in Ludhiana to promote food processing industry in the state.

The CM has asked Punjab Agro Industries Corporation (PAIC) to finalise the Detailed Project Report (DPR) regarding the proposed food park at the earliest for submitting it to the Union Food Processing Ministry, an official spokesperson said.

Two-time MP from Bathinda, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, wife of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, took charge of the Ministry of Food Processing yesterday.

Badal has also asked the concerned authorities to complete the entire plan along with getting requisite approvals simultaneously within three months.

They have also been asked to finalise a policy for allotting land sites in this mega food park to companies which would firm up big investments in a time bound manner.

The Centre's scheme of mega food park, which aims at providing a mechanism to link agricultural production to the market, envisages a one-time capital grant of 50 per cent of the project cost, subject to a maximum of Rs 50 crore in general areas and 75 per cent of the project cost, subject to a ceiling of Rs 50 crore in difficult and hilly areas.

The Chief Minister also gave approval to establish two new ultra modern fish markets at Amritsar and Bathinda on the pattern of already approved at Ludhiana, the spokesperson added.

In another significant decision pertaining to the establishment of maize processing cluster in the state, the Chief Minister asked the department to identify a large chunk of land besides working out a comprehensive plan for it.