"There is a doubt about the viability of the entire potato flakes processing project," Agriculture and Agricultural marketing Secretary, Subrata Biswas told PTI here today.
"Though the state government is ready to provide subsidy in the project, we are yet to find a private company," Biswas said.
Asked about the future of the project in such a scenario, Biswas said that the state would wait another six months or a maximum period of one year before abandoning it.
Incidentally, Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) chairman Santosh Sarangi today asked Agricultural Marketing minister Arup Roy to ensure a mechanism to expedite funds it had alloted to the project.
"I would like to request the state government to expedite a mechanism to use our funds in this regard," Sarangi said speaking at an interaction on agri-export issues at the Indian Chamber of Commerce where Roy was also present.
The funds provided to the state for the potato flakes processing unit were yet to be used, Sarangi said.
"This is not the case with West Bengal only, most eastern states like Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha have failed to utilise the funds ... And if fund remains not utilised APEDA will not be able to provide funds in the future," he said.
Meanwhile, asked how the state planned to use APEDA's funds if the proposed project was abandoned, Biswas said it would be channelised into other projects.