The State government will encourage development of food processing units in every constituency by private entrepreneurs, farmer producer groups and various government agencies, said Industries and Commerce Minster K.T. Rama Rao.
Responding to various questions by ruling party members in the Assembly here on Friday, Mr.Rama Rao said that a draft food processing policy has been prepared and is under the consideration by the departments concerned.
TSIIC is setting up a food processing unit in Sattupally, snacks and other food products unit in Bandathimmapuram, grains processing unit in Bandamylaram and a sweet orange processing centre in Mallepally of Nalgonda district. Efforts were being made to set up 21 food processing units, including red chilli processing unit at Kampally of Mahbubabad district, maize unit at Sircilla, fruits and spices unit at Narsampeta, poultry and meat unit at Zaheerabad, agro cluster at Dandumalkapur in Munugode and a vegetable cluster at Mandapalli in Siddipet, he said.
Subsidy rice
Civil Supplies Minister Gangula Kamalakar has ruled out giving cash in lieu of subsidy rice. Over 2.6 crore people were getting benefit under the ₹1 per kg subsidised rice scheme that was being implemented efficiently in the State. He said geo-tagging system was being followed to track every vehicle carrying the rice load to check pilferage. He also said that there was a proposal to increase the number of fair price shops and the commission of ration shop dealers had been increased.
Dumping yards
Panchayat Raj Minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao has said government has sanctioned dumping yards in 7,595 villages at an estimated cost of ₹114 crore and so far ₹34 crore had been spent for improving sanitation and collection of garbage. As part of the ongoing 30-day special action plan, sites for the dumping yards and grave yards would be identified and planned in all 12,000 plus gram panchayats.
