Shillong, Jul 30: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Wednesday inaugurated the largest PepsiCo bottling plant in the North East at Mendipathar in North Garo Hills.
The bottling plant of Varun Beverages spreads across 37 acre in the Mendipathar industrial area with an investment of Rs 340 crore.
Officials said the bottling plant will engage close to 500 staff members for production and distribution of different PepsiCo products, including fruit-based juices.
Calling it a “symbol of economic growth” the Chief Minister said, “This project is a blessing for our state, as it will open up job opportunities and benefit the people of the region directly and indirectly.”
He said that the plant will open up ancillary opportunities and lead to a boom in economic activities.
Recalling the long-delayed promise of industrial development in Garo Hills, the CM said the Mendipathar industrial area was conceptualised in the 1990s, but saw no investment for over 30 years.
“In the last 30 years, no unit came up. There was hope and expectation, which never got fulfilled,” he said, expressing the concern of the late P.A. Sangma, who envisioned Mendipathar as a growth engine for Garo Hills.
He acknowledged the contribution of the Nokma (village chief) and the people of Mendipathar for donating the land for setting up the industrial area 30 years ago. “There was hope and expectation, which never got fulfilled,” he said, paying tribute to the vision of his late father and former Lok Sabha Speaker P A Sangma.
Sangma also announced that another plant would be set up in the Tikrikilla Bajengdoba area, with 90 per cent of the work already completed.
Deputy Speaker Timothy D Shira, Power Minister Abu Taher Mondal, PHE Minister Marcuise Marak, MIDC Chairman James K Sangma and other MLAs were present at the inaugural event.
The CM also thanked Varun Beverages Chairman Ravikant Jaipuria and Varun Jaipuria for their commitment. “Ravikant ji is a visionary. Though the target was nine months, the project was completed in 11 months,” he said, lauding the company’s time-bound execution.
