The Honourable Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has asked the ITC to establish Food Processing Units in a big way in coordination with the State government. The CM said that the government was of the firm opinion that food-processing units should come up in big way in the State, to get the support price for the farmers for their produce, to supply unadulterated and quality food products to the people. ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri, ED Nakul Anand, Senior officers Sanjay Singh, Usharani have met the CM at Pragathi Bhavan. Chief Secretary SK Joshi, CMO Principal Secretary Narsing Rao and others participated in the meeting.
The Sanjiv Puri disclosed that the construction of ITC’s 800 Crore Food Processing Plant at Manoharabad in Medak district was almost completed and the plant will go on stream in two to three months time. The CM congratulated the ITC for completing such a big Food Processing Plant in a record time.
“Our government has an aim to launch the food processing units on a large scale to enable the growers get suitable price for their produce and the consumers, unadulterated and quality food grains. To achieve the goal, major players like the ITC, which has considerable experience in the field, should come forward. There are four and half lakh Women Self Help groups in the State. The services of the women should be utilised in procuring the raw material and other works for the establishment of the Food Processing Units all over the State. This should be taken as a social responsibility,” the CM observed.
The CM also asked the ITC to take initiative in opening the Rayon’s factory in Mulugu district, for which the ITC senior officials have responded positively. “We are completing Kaleswaram and other projects on a fast track. Reservoirs with a capacity of 500 TMC are getting ready in the State. They will become an ideal location for the nature’s beauty. We have natural forests, historical places in the State. All these can be developed as the tourism centres. The government is also making efforts for the tourism development. ITC should also come forward in developing the tourism centres,” the CM said.
