?Maharashtra suggests deforesting 20 acres of forest land for Patanjali's food park set up
?Maharashtra suggests deforesting 20 acres of forest land for Patanjali's food park set up

Maharashtra government had allotted 230 acres in Nagpur at 75% discount to Baba Ramdev's Patanjali Ayurveda Ltd in August last year to set up a food park.

The state agency, Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation (MADC), which owned the land, had also suggested extending the plot by deforesting 20 acres of Zudapi Jungle or shrub land adjoining the plot, RTI documents show.

Vishwas Patil, Managing Director, MADC, said, "The proposed Food, Agro and Forest based industrial park in Mihan is envisaged to be developed on an area of about 230 acres. This may go up to 250 acres subject to deforestation of the land parcel under Zudapi Jungle which falls under the boundary of proposed project land."

In response to the note, the MADC board of directors headed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had said, "The Board noted the status."

Patil had written to the board, "In this chunk of 376 acres of land, about 30 acres of land on paper is described as Zudapi Jungle and 16 acres of land covers natural water channels. Considering the nature of the land, this area is suitable for a food park and agriculture and allied activities."

Patil further added, "It is only a suggestion and there has been no movement on it. The suggestion had only been made because the Zudapi Jungle is right next to the plot."

 
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