IDCO, OSIC asked to prepare feasibility report for food mega-parks

Bhubaneswar, March 10 (IANS) The Odisha government has asked its two public sector units (PSUs) to prepare techno-feasibility report for setting up 20 food mega-parks in the state, said an official on Tuesday.

The government has advised Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) to prepare techno feasible report for 15 mega food parks in the state. It has also asked Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) to prepare techno-feasibility report for five food mega-parks.

“IDCO should take proactive steps to prepare techno feasiblity report for 15 food mega-parks in the state for promoting the same in collaboration with a joint venture partner through a process similar to food mega-park scheme of the Government of India,” said the minutes of the meeting of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) on Tuesday.

“OSIC should take similar action for 5 mega food parks,” said the letter.

In a bid to provide impetus to the food processing industries, the state government is planning to set up mega food parks in different locations across Odisha under the Centre’s Food Mega-Park Scheme. State PSUs -- IDCO, OSIC and Odisha Agro Industries Corporation Limited (OAIC) -- have expressed interest in setting up food mega-parks in the state, said an official.

While IDCO has proposed to set up its seafood mega-park at Deras in Khordha district, OAIC and OSIC are interested to develop their food park projects in Koraput and Jharsuguda districts respectively.

Meanwhile, chief secretary G.C. Pati has asked the concerned officials and the project developers of the food mega-park at Rayagada to submit a road map for completion and commissioning of the project indicating timeline against each of the components.