Seafood Park near Khurda soon

Idco has earmarked about 50 acres land near Deras in Khurda district

In a renewed effort to set up a seafood park in the state, Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco), the nodal land acquisition agency for the state government, has earmarked about 50 acres land near Deras in Khurda district.

The park will be jointly developed by Idco and Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) (Odisha region).

The identified land patch forms part of 200 acres available with Idco near Deras farm on the Pitapalli-Chandaka highway.

Earlier, Idco had initiated steps to set up a marine food processing complex near Bhadrak. The plan could not take off due to local issues that prevented Idco to complete the boundary wall.
 

In a recent meeting with Idco chairman and managing director, Vishal Dev, the sea food exporters' body had requested him to find out an alternate site with minimum of 50 acres land, preferably near the national highway with assured water supply.

It was decided, the land officer, Khurda, would immediately complete the demarcation of 200 acres, currently with Idco, after joint survey with the officials of the district administration and horticulture department. About 50 acres will be carved out from this piece for the proposed food park.

Chief General Manager (Planning and Coordination), Idco, will prepare the master plan for this land with provisions for all common infrastructure required for seafood processing units. It was suggested to take the services of Odisha Project Development Company Limited (OPDCL), a joint venture of Idco & IL&FS for assessing the infrastructure needs of the complex and preparation of the master plan.

In addition, OPDCL will assist Idco to avail grants under various schemes of the central government and Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) and other sources.

Welcoming the outcomes of the meeting, G Mohanty, President, SEAI (Odisha chapter) said, the establishment of the seafood park will result in better value addition of fishery products and reduce the wastage which is around 15 per cent, at present.

The regional chapter of marine exporters also committed that ten processing units will come up at the park immediately.