(a) whether the Government proposes or has given approval to set up food parks in each district of the country, if so, the details thereof, State-wise especially in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra;
(b) the details of incentives given to the promoters of food park in each district; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to extend the said programme in the small and medium cities, if so, the location-wise details thereof alongwith the steps taken and time limit in this regard?
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)
(a) to (c): Ministry of Food Processing Industries has been implementing Mega Food Park Scheme (MFPS) to create modern infrastructure for the food processing since 2008. This scheme is now a component of the Central Sector Umbrella Scheme – Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). Ministry does not establish Mega Food Parks in the country on its own. The proposals under Mega Food Park Scheme for setting up of Mega Food Parks in the country are invited through Expression of Interest (EoI) from time to time. Selection of suitable proposals for these projects is done as per the Scheme guidelines, based on the merit, through a three tier stringent appraisal process as per the prefixed criteria. Ministry has floated EoI on 03.02.2021 for submission of proposals for setting up of Mega Food Parks in the country under Scheme for Mega Food Park. Last date of submission of proposal is 10.03.2021. This scheme is not specific to a district, small and medium cities and is applicable for setting up of Mega Food Parks anywhere in the country. As on date, Ministry has not given any approval to set up food parks in each district of the country. Presently, there is no proposal under consideration to establish any new Mega Food Parks in the country including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra under the Mega Food Park Scheme of the Ministry. Government has accorded approval for setting up of 42 Mega food Parks in the country and at present Ministry has accorded final approval to 37 Mega Food Parks and in-principle approval to 2 Mega Food Parks in the country under the Mega Food Park scheme. State wise details of 39 Mega Food Park Projects approved under the Mega Food Park Scheme in the country including project approved in state of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra along with their current status of implementation are at Annexure.
As per the Mega Food Park Scheme guidelines, the Scheme provides a capital grant at the rate of 50 percent of the eligible project cost in general areas including Tamil Nadu & Maharashtra and at the rate of 75 percent of eligible project cost in difficult and hilly areas i.e. North East Region including Sikkim, J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and ITDP notified areas of the States subject to a maximum grant of Rs.50 crore per project. The time schedule for completion and successful operationalization of a Mega Food Park project is 30 months from the date of final approval to the project.
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