No AEZ for Orissa in absence of Central fund: Minister

Bhubaneswar,Mar 18 (UNI) Non-availability of central assistance has deprived Orissa to set up Agriculture Export Zone (AEZ), Agriculture Minister Surendranath Nayak told the Assembly today.

Replying to a question of Arun Kumar Sahu (BJD), the Minister said a Rs 83.70 crore proposal was submitted to the Centre for setting up of the zone in 2002.

Though the Union government had approved the proposal, the AEZ could not be set up as no fund was released till date.

Mr Nayak said the Revenue department was also requested to provide 20 acres of land for setting up of the zone, but later a decision was taken to open the zone in the farm of the Agriculture department since no land was available for the project.

The Minister said the government would consider to establish the AEZ through Public Private Partnership mode if the Centre failed to provide any assistance.

He said the Centre had approved to set up an AEZ for export of ginger and turmeric at Phulbani for Kandhamal and Koraput district.

The Minister said steps had been taken to transfer 8.194 hectares of land lying under the agriculture department to APICOL for this purpose.

Mr Nayak said for infrastrcture development a Rs 66.96 crore proposal was submitted to the state government for the development of export infrastructure.

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