One Yogi pulls out of the other Yogi’s state

Miffed with non-cooperation, Patanjali drops food park project

Baba Ramdev’s Patanjali Ayurved is scrapping its proposed Rs 6,000-crore mega food processing project along the Yamuna Expressway in UP, exasperated by the lukewarm response of the State government.

Confirming the development, Managing Director Acharya Balkrishna told the TV channel Aaj Tak: UP mein keval dhinga-masti ho rahi hai, kaam nahin ho raha, is liye hum food park ko shift kar rahein hai.’’

He also said the proposed Greater Noida food park would have brought prosperity to the land of Lord Rama and Krishna. However, because of the state government's indifference this will remain a dream. ‘‘We have decided to shift to some other location,’’ he was quoted as saying.

In 2016, former UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had laid the foundation of Patanjali's mega food park with much fanfare. It was to be constructed in 455 acres with an investment of Rs 1666.8 crore and provide direct employment to over 8,000 people. It would have catered to the domestic and the export markets.

However, the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) could not get the required clearances for transfer of land from the state government, said a top company official.

Acharya Balkrishna told PTI: "We did not get any cooperation from the state government for this project. We have waited for a long time for the clearances. Now, we have decided to shift the project."

The UP government, however, said it has given one more month to Patanjali to meet the conditions required for the final approval.

Patanjali had already got support from financial institutions for the project, Balkrishna claimed.

Mega food parks are to be implemented within 30 months and financial assistance is provided to them by the central government.

Earlier, Patanjali had said that its Yamuna Expressway-based plant would produce goods worth Rs 25,000 crore annually, if it runs to its full capacity.

Patanjali is investing heavily in mega food park projects, including one in Nagpur and Tejpur.