‘Odisha deprived of mega textile park for not submitting proposal’

Bhubaneswar: Odisha has ample opportunities for textile industries but adequate cooperation is not being extended by the State government. Had there been the necessary cooperation, the industry could have gone a long way, Union Minister of State (MoS) Textiles Darshana Jardosh said today.

At least 12 states had submitted their proposals to the Central government for mega textile parks and also participated in the bidding process. Seven of them have been accorded permission, based on their available infrastructures as well as respective textile policies. Handloom weavers are being imparted training by the Central government under its ambitious Samarth Yojana, the Minister stated.

Adequate provisions have been made for marketing and several skilled workers from this sector have been awarded for their expertise. Bolstering the textile industry and the extinct art form of handloom weaving is the aim of the Government which had plans to set up at least one mega textile park in each state.

The textile parks were to be set up at a cost of Rs 10,000 crore and spanning over a land of 1,000 acres. The State and Central governments would have 51 and 49 percent shares respectively in the mega projects; the Minister expressed quoting Prime Minister Modi’s vision at the G20 New Delhi summit.

Reacting to this, Rajnagar BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo said, “Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has always placed Odisha’s demands before the Central government through letters and in proper forums. However, the Central government has been neglecting the State simply for political reasons.”

“We have extended our cooperation in many cases in the past days. Had we not extended cooperation, why the Central government has been awarding us times and again?” the BJD MLA questioned.

Odisha was earlier conferred Krishi Karman Award as a surplus State for increased food production. The BJD-led government has been awarded for several other achievements and for its various welfare schemes. The Central government has been neglecting Odisha with a political grudge, Sahoo added.