Lok Sabha Question No. 4765 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-21
Subject: Establishment of Irradiation Facility in Peddapallia
Ministry: FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES
Asked by: Shri Vamsi Krishna Gaddam

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4765

ANSWERED ON 21 ST  AUGUST, 2025

## ESTABLISHMENT OF IRRADIATION FACILITY IN PEDDAPALLIA

## 4765.   SHRI VAMSI KRISHNA GADDAM:

Will the Minister of FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Union Government has any plans to fund and establish an  irradiation  facility  in Peddapalli  district  of  Telangana  to  enhance  the  shelf  life  and  export  quality  of  perishable agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (b) whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  develop  cold  storage  units  and  refrigerated  transport infrastructure in Peddapalli to support the storage and export of perishable items such as milk, eggs and vegetables, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (c) the expected timeline and implementation framework for these projects including the details of partnerships with private players or the State Government?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR FOOD PROCESSING INDUSTRIES (SHRI RAVNEET SINGH)

(a): The Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI) does not set up irradiation facilities on its own under the component scheme- Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure (Cold Chain scheme) of the Central Sector umbrella scheme- Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY). As per extant Cold Chain scheme guidelines dated 06.08.2024 specifically framed for setting up of multi product food irradiation units, financial assistance in the form of grants-in-aid/subsidy is provided for setting up of either standalone or integrated multi product food irradiation units @35% of the eligible project cost in general areas and @ 50% in case of difficult areas and the proposals from SC/ST, FPOs and SHGs subject to maximum grants-in-aid/ subsidy of Rs.10.00  crore per project.  As Cold  Chain scheme is demand driven and being implemented across the country, no State-wise or district - wise or region-wise allocation of funds including for Peddapalli district of Telangana is made. An Expression of Interest has been floated and is open for inviting proposals from eligible entities seeking financial support for setting up of multi product food irradiation units from across the country including Peddapalli district of Telangana.

(b): MoFPI does not set up food processing projects on its own under any of the component schemes of PMKSY. However, financial support in the form of grants-in-aid/ subsidy is provided for setting up of food processing projects. Further, no standalone cold storage and refrigerated transport infrastructure are supported under PMKSY. However, in the individual cold chain projects supported under Cold Chain scheme, cold storage and refrigerated transport infrastructure are considered as the eligible items for providing grants-in-aid/subsidy. As Cold Chain scheme is demand driven and being implemented across the country, no State-wise or district -wise or region-wise allocation of fund including for Peddapalli district of Telangana is made. Expression of Interest is floated for inviting proposals from eligible entities seeking  financial  support  for  setting  up  of  cold  chain  projects  from  across  the  country  including Peddapalli district of Telangana.

(c): The prescribed timelines for completion of cold chain projects and multi product food irradiation units are 24 months in case of general areas and 30 months in case of difficult areas as per the extant Cold Chain scheme guidelines dated 22.05.2025 and 06.08.2024 respectively. Any individual/ Central & State PSU/ Joint Venture/ NGO/ Cooperative/Self Help Group/ Farmer Producer Organisation (FPO)/ Farmer Producer Company (FPC)/ Public & Private Sector Companies/ Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) / partnership firm and proprietorship firm are the eligible entities to avail benefit under Cold Chain scheme.

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