Proposed Belgaum Food and Agricultural Export Park cancelled

GULBARGA: Two agro food technology parks proposed at Belgaum and Maddur in Mandya district, out of total six proposed parks, in the State have been dropped, thanks to the apathy of officials concerned and the lack of political will.

The promoters failed to identify the land in Belgaum, where as in Maddur the KAIDB acquired 70 acres and after a year the same was granted to other schemes, as there was no progress.

In fact, now there is no provision for the State Government to seek approval or seek financial assistance from the Union Government as the schemes taken up under the 10th Five Year Plan closed on March 2007.

Though there is a scheme to establish parks under Mega Food Parks in the 11th Five Year Plan, the proposal is still pending before the Planning Commission, sources revealed to this website’s newspaper.

Out of the four approved parks, the infrastructure work in Jewargi of Gulbarga district on 105 acres land and in Bagalkot on 100 acres land is yet to begin.

However, as much as Rs 2 crore each for Malur (in Kolar district) agro food park and Bagalkot agro food park has already been released out of Rs 4 crore available funds from the Union government. It is also likely to release Rs 2 crore for the Hiriyur (in Chitradurga dist) agro food park shortly.

Meanwhile, it is said that the Union government authorities cautioned the State to utilise the funds to promote agro food processing industries, where there is predominant production of processable agriculture and horticulture products before March 2008 or the funds will be diverted to other schemes.

At present, there is no possibility of releasing Central and State governments’ funds for Jewargi agro food park as nothing has been progressed except land acquisition. However, the project management team led by S S Patil, who is also a FKCCI president claims that they would start the work shortly.

Meanwhile, Malur agro food park is all set to be thrown open to agro-based industries by the end of December. Required facilities such as uninterrupted power supply, water supply, quality assurance laboratory, wear housing including cold storage unit and common effluent treatment plant provided well in advance

Source newindpress