Question : Consultant for Mega Food Parks

(a) the proposals received by the Government regarding setting up of Mega Food Parks along with the number of proposal approved in the country during each of the last two years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has received a number of complaints regarding irregularities in the approval of Mega Food Parks, if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government has appointed any consultant for clearance of proposals for setting up of Mega Food Parks in the country; and

(d) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the yearly expenditure incurrred on consultants?

(a). The proposals under Mega Food Park Scheme for setting up Mega Food Park projects are invited against the Expression of Interest (EOI) which is uploaded on the website of the Ministry and widely published in the newspapers etc. The suitable proposals for setting up Mega Food Park projects are selected based on the merit through a stringent and elaborate process involving three stages of appraisals based on prefixed criteria as provided in the Scheme Guidelines. The details of State-wise proposals received by the Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) and the number of proposals approved for setting up of Mega Food Parks in the country during each of the last two years and the current year are at Annexure-I.

(b). To provide a window for redressal of grievances / complaints / representations, MoFPI has constituted a Committee of Independent Monitors (CIM) to consider the representations against the selection of the Mega Food Park projects. The applicants, whose proposals have been rejected by the Inter-Ministerial Approval Committee (IMAC), may submit their representations to CIM. The CIM after going through the relevant records and according personal hearing to the applicant, makes its recommendations to the Ministry for reconsideration or otherwise of the proposal. MoFPI received 20 representations against the rejection of the proposals received in response to EOI dated 10.02.2014 and 5 representations against the rejection of the proposals received in response to EOI dated 31.07.2016.

(c) & (d). Yes, Madam. Mega Food Park proposals are invited from all over the country. MoFPI do not have its offices in the States. Due to limited outreach and lack of manpower, MoFPI has engaged 4 Program Management Agencies (PMAs) from reputed institutions to assist it in selection of the projects, monitoring of the progress and release of grant under Mega Food Parks Scheme. The expenditure incurred on the PMAs varies from year to year depending on the grants-in-aid released for implementation of Mega Food Park projects. An amount of Rs. 1.69 crore and Rs. 2.92 crore has been released to the PMAs during FY 2015-16 and FY 2016-17 respectively. No amount has been released in the current Financial Year till date.