OSIC to set up mega food park in Jharsuguda.

The Odisha Small Industries Corporation (OSIC) plans to set up a mega food park in Jharsuguda district. The proposed park, to come up over 58 acres of land, will process chilly and sweet water fish.

'We will set up a mega food park in Jharsuguda district for chilly and sweet water fish processing. We have sought 58 acres of land on lease from the district administration,' said an OSIC official.

After getting the land, the detailed project report will be prepared. OSIC will move the Centre for inclusion of the park in the mega food park scheme of the Government of India, he added. Recently, chief secretary GC Pati had asked OSIC to identify locations for five mega food parks and prepare the feasibility reports. OSIC is yet to identify the locations for balance four food parks.

At a meeting of the state level coordination committee of mega food parks, held under the chairmanship of state chief secretary, it was decided that 20 new agro/food processing parks would be set up in the state. The Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) is assigned the task to identify locations for 15 mega food parks.

Idco has entrusted the job of identifying the locations for these food parks to International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of World Bank.

Recently, the Union ministry of food processing industries has approved a proposal to set up a sea food park at Deras in Khurda district.

BS