No vendetta, Amethi food park project did not have requisite land: Union minister

GUWAHATI: Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Niranjan Jyoti said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government does not discriminate between region and places in giving projects.

Jyoti, who was in Guwahati to participate in the roadshow on World food India, 2017, said that the foundation stone of Food Park in Amethi was laid before Lok Sabha election and did not have land.

She said, " Rahul Gandhi's allegation that NDA government is discriminating against Amethi is not correct. The proposed food park did not have requisite land without which it is not possible to accord permission for a food park."

The minister said, "If a project meets the parameter of the ministry, ministry has no problem in giving projects and we do not discriminate on the ground of place or region, for we want development of all."

Congress Vice President, Rahul Gandhi had earlier alleged that NDA government owing to political vendetta has scrapped Amethi food park project. He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi stalled Food Project in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi.

The minister said that since 2014, nine mega food parks have come across the country, while between 2008 and 2014, only two food parks came up. "We have target to scale up the number of food parks to 42 by 2019."

Assam has sought four new mega food parks. The ministry has assured that it will consider the state government's request.

Niranjan Jyoti said India is becoming preferred destination for procurement for food products. "Dubai has shown interest in getting rice from India after it found Chinese rice having plastic. We have set up 235 cold chains across the country and another 100 are in pipeline. Assam has sought 10 cold chains."

In the lines of World food India, 2017 from November 3 to 5, Assam to sought such programme which will attended by NRIs.

Assam industry ministry, Chandra Mohan Patwary said, "We want to hoist the event to showcase Northeast India's potential in food processing sector."