During his interaction with entrepreneurs at a seminar on food processing, Chief Secretary S.P. Tucker gave the “big picture” on the investment scenario in the State.
He said of the 800 proposals received from all sectors, 400 with an estimated investment of Rs.1.15 lakh crore had been cleared. In another 45 days, 200 more proposals worth Rs.1 lakh crore would be cleared, he said.
“Any good proposal would be cleared in 45 days. We will meet you personally and we have funds,” he told the entrepreneurs.
He suggested that an entrepreneur development programme for the 125 young entrepreneurs at the seminar and by obtaining their background and proposals and categorising them an action plan should be prepared.
In a quick interaction, a few entrepreneurs explained their problems.
A retired lieutenant commander told him that though his request for road via government land to a mango pulp unit was approved after three years, the rate (for the land) was high and in square feet. The Chief Secretary told him that the road access cases were being taken up and he should get his included and asked the officials “to be liberal.”
A training programme would be taken up for women entrepreneurs in the integrated food park that would come up in Vizianagaram district where 75 per cent of 20 plots would be allotted to them, he told a representative of Association of Lady Entrepreneurs. The Chief Secretary said utilising the earmarked funds at the rate of Rs.10,000 for person training should be provided.
Raghavendra of Palasa Cashew Manufacturers’ Association said of the 330 units only 40 were allotted land by APIIC. The Chief Secretary told officials to provide land, support and viability gap funding to local entrepreneurs and reminded them of the preferential treatment given to MNCs.
An industrialist from Chittoor said he was prepared to invest up to Rs.100 crore but wanted the 30 acre norm for integrated food parks to be reduced to 20 acres as land was not available and take built up area into consideration.
