Odisha govt to set up Seafood Park near Deras
Bhubaneswar, April 29:
The Odisha government today submitted a proposal to the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries to set up a seafood park at Deras in Khordha district under the revised mega food park scheme of the Centre.
The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) will be the nodal agency for the project which will come up at a 50-acre site near Deras. The identified land patch forms part of 200 acres available with Idco near Deras Farm along the Pitapalli-Chandaka highway.
“The corporation has the expertise for development of industrial parks. This department shall provide all the fiscal incentives under the Odisha Food Processing Policy, 2013 to Idco to implement the project. As the nodal department dealing with food processing industry in the state, the present proposal is strongly recommended for approval under the mega food park scheme,” said MSME secretary Panchanan Dash in a letter to Niraj Kumar Gayagi, Director, Ministry of Food Processing Industries.
The marine food processing complex was originally planned near Bhadrak. But the plan could not take off due to local issues that prevented Idco from completing the construction of the boundary wall.
Idco will prepare the master plan for the 50-acre land near Deras with provisions for all the basic infrastructure required for seafood processing units. It plans to seek the services of Odisha Project Development Company Limited (OPDCL), a joint venture of Idco & IL&FS to assess the infrastructure needs of the complex and also for the 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.
Nothing can be more bizarre than this. Strong smell all around and near the heritage site of Hati Gumpha and the famous Centre of Jainism would be hurting sentiments of thousands. Should not be pursued. Something better should be thought of.