WIth the Centre sanctioning 30 food parks, Uttarakhand is emerging as a favourite destination. After Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Yogpeeth setting up a mega food park at Haridwar, Jain Irrigation Systems Limited is following suit with the state government expecting more such proposals.
Jain Irrigation is scouting for 300 acres of land in the hill state for setting up a food park and irrigation systems with an investment of Rs 400 crore. A Jain Irrigation delegation recently met the state government officials requesting allotment of land.
“This is a major proposal that has come to us,” said Sudhir Nautiyal, additional director (industries) here. Jain Irrigation’s top officials would shortly meet chief minister B C Khanduri in this regard.
Nautiyal said the government was expecting more such proposals, especially in the hills where the state government last year declared a hill development policy under which it is offering a slew of sops including transport and power subsidy. The government is also taking pro-active steps like a single window system to attract more investments.
Earlier, Baba Ramdev took the lead and set up a food park in Haridwar’s Padartha area where it is expecting an investment of Rs 500 crore. Baba Ramdev has also floated Patanjali Food and Herbal Park, a special purpose vehicle (SPV) for the purpose.
After the industrial deluge in the state during the past four years, the government is now focussing on the agriculture sector keeping in view special geographical conditions of the state.
The state government also wants to take benefits from the central scheme which is offering heavy subsidy. Considering the high risks involved in the food processing sector, the Centre is providing a subsidy of Rs 50 crore per park to private investors. These food parks will provide direct and indirect employment to thousands of people and will have warehouses, grading centres and research laboratories.
Nautiyal said the state government had received scores of proposals for setting up food processing units in the hills of the state. The government is also aiming at increasing food processing export business in the hill state.
