Chief Secy directs to expedite Rayagada Food Park Work
Bhubaneswar, Aug 17: New business opportunities for local farmers and agri- entrepreneurs are on offing with the upcoming MITS Mega Food Park at Rayagada. The grounding of the Park has been fastened with Chief Secretary Sri Gokul Chandra Pati reviewing the progress in a high level meeting held in secretariat conference hall recently. Taking stock of the progress made so far, Chief Secretary Sri Pati has directed IDCO to fasten and complete permanent power supply system and common facility centers in the park within the specified time line. The project proponents have been advised to comply with all statutory and regulatory requirements for avoiding any possible bottleneck in future. Chief Secretary has also directed them to construct rain water harvesting structures in the park to store water for use and recharge of ground water.
Review shows that a SPV named MITS Mega Food Park has already been formed for establishment and running of the food park at Rayagada and it has started functioning. IDCO, Basantdevi Charitable Trust, Keventer Agro Ltd and Expo Biotech Ltd are the SPV partners. 50.5 acrers of the land required for the park has already been acquired put under the possession of the SPV. The fund of around 20 cr has already been mobilized against the total approved cost of Rs.80.17 cr to be augmented from bank loan, Govt grant, SPV share money.
Replying to a media query after the meeting, the vice-chairman of the SPV Sriram Panda said that as of now 90% of the construction work of MSME sheds has been completed. The construction of the overhead water tank of 1 lakh liter has also been completed. The boundary wall of 450 mt have been raised against a total boundary of 500 mts. The balance 50 mt boundary wall will be completed soon. The construction and furnishing of the site office of the park has already been completed. The approach road of 152 mt has been laid and it is being developed further. Around 20 investors and entrepreneurs have expressed interest to establish their food processing units in the Park. The processes for establishment of modern rice processing complex, cashew processing unit, and bottling plants for mango pulp and other fruits are in advanced stage. The construction of a modern Dry Ware House with 10,000 MT capacities is on full swing. The members of the SPV present in the meeting expressed the hope that the park will soon provide new business opportunities for the local farmers and agri-entrepreneurs.
The Development Commissioner Sri U.N. Behera, Principal Secretary Industry Sri Sanjeeb Chopra, CMD GRIDCO Sri Visha Dev, Secretary MS&ME Sri Panchanana Das, representative members of the SPV along with senior officers from the concerned departments participated in deliberations.