11th December of 2024, Patna, Vikas Kumar Ojha: On December 11, 2024, Bihar Chief Secretary, Amritlal Meena, visited the industrial areas of Muzaffarpur and Hajipur, where he reviewed key industrial developments including the Mega Food Park, Bag Cluster, Textile Cluster, and Safety Shoe Unit in Hajipur.
During his visit to the Mega Food Park located in Motipur, Muzaffarpur, which spans 143 acres, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need to expedite the work and commence operations as soon as possible. He shared that two warehouses, a lychee chamber, a banana chamber, and 10 micro sheds are being constructed, with a focus on food processing activities.
At the Bag Cluster in the Bela Industrial Area, he reviewed the work of Jeevika Didis (rural women entrepreneurs) and observed the significant improvements in their lives. The cluster comprises 53 sheds, with 42 allocated to Jeevika Didis. The bags are being produced using 25 machines in one of the sheds. These women have received financial assistance of ₹10 lakh each under the Women Entrepreneurs Scheme. The Chief Secretary suggested creating a strategy to sell the bags made by Jeevika Didis in Khadi malls and other private retail outlets.
The Chief Secretary also toured the Textile Cluster, which employs around 600 people, and manufactures T-shirts, jackets, and other garments for men, women, and children. He visited the “Competence Exports Private Limited” in Hajipur, a company that manufactures safety shoes for the Russian army and exports to the UK, Netherlands, and France. During the inspection, he observed the cutting, stitching, molding, and packaging processes. The company currently employs 300 artisans, including 200 women, and plans to expand by producing gloves and army uniforms, which will increase the workforce to 900.
The Chief Secretary suggested that the company explore opportunities for supplying products to the Indian Army and domestic markets. He also directed that solar systems be installed on the rooftops of all units, and proper sanitation and maintenance steps be taken in the industrial area.
The Chief Secretary provided the following directions for further industrial area development:
- Cleanliness and Maintenance: Ensure cleanliness and long-term maintenance of the entire Hajipur Industrial Area.
- Solar Energy: Install solar panels on the roofs of all industrial units.
- Uninterrupted Power Supply: Ensure reliable power supply across the area.
- Meetings: Organize monthly meetings with all units.
- Muzaffarpur (Biofuel, Mega Food Park, and Textile Park):
- Address the loss faced by ethanol units due to increased maize prices (₹27 per kg) and implement solid measures to mitigate this.
- Expedite the construction of a sewage system and sewage treatment plant (STP) in the industrial area.
- Set up an Inland Container Depot (ICD) with a railway siding in North Bihar.
- Complete the basic infrastructure work at the Mega Food Park by March 2025, and appoint an O&M agency immediately.
- Ensure the allocation of MSEM sheds to Jeevika Didis and the appointment of permanent staff at the park.
- Bela Industrial Area (Bag Cluster and Textile Park):
- 35,000 square feet of land has been allocated for a women’s hostel in the textile hub.
- Seek alternative employment opportunities for Jeevika Didis during the off-season.
- BIADA is tasked with developing common amenities like toilets, food courts, solar lighting, internal roads, and drainage systems in the industrial area.
- A proposal has been sent to the railway authorities for the relocation of the railway siding and the construction of a Road Over Bridge (RoB) at the nearby railway crossing.
During the visit, key officials including Director of Industries Alok Ranjan Ghosh, Executive Director of BIADA Chandrashekhar Singh, District Magistrate of Muzaffarpur Subrata Kumar Sen, and other senior officials were present. The Chief Secretary praised the efforts of Jeevika Didis and emphasized the importance of skill development and maximizing benefits from government schemes. He also visited the “Didi Ki Rasoi” initiative and appreciated the operations there.
