Central approval awaited for mega food park at Cherthala.

The Industrial Growth Centre at Pallippuram in Cherthala is awaiting the final clearance from the Union government for the proposed mega food park. The park, to be set up in 65 acres within its 278-acre compound, was one among the 40 mega food parks given in-principle approval by the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MOFPI).

Out of the estimated project cost of Rs.125 crore for the Cherthala project, the MOFPI is expected to provide a grant of Rs.50 crore. The remaining investment, including any loan element, will have to be raised by the promoters.

The government released the list of 40 mega food park projects in April this year, but the latest list released by the MOFPI mentions 13 projects in the country which have been given Central grant. The Cherthala project is not among the list released in Parliament last week.

DPR yet to be submitted

The State government has entrusted the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation with the setting up of the project. A detailed project report would have to be submitted to the MOFPI for the final approval. A senior KSIDC official told The Hindu that it was expected that the Cherthala project would get the final nod once the detailed project report was submitted. The time frame for submitting the DPR was not over, the official said.

The Cherthala project would mainly cater to the marine food segment. A seafood park set up at Aroor, near Cherthala, has limited facilities. The 4-acre project has 10 units. Though there have been demands from exporters, there is not much scope for expansion, according to officials.

The total estimated investment in the 40 mega food parks in the country would be around Rs.14,794 crore as per the MOFPI projections.

The Hindu