Yoga guru Baba Ramdev-promoted Patanjali Yogpeeth will set up four industrial units in Vidarbha region of east Maharashtra, including in the backward district of Gadchiroli, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said. The units will come up in Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (Mihan), Amravati and Katol, besides in Gadchiroli. Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has facilitated setting up of the units. "Maharashtra government has decided to provide 347 acres of land in Mihan to Patanjali Yogpeeth for setting up a food processing unit. "Some 108 acres of this land will be in the special economic zone (SEZ) and the remaining 239 acres outside it. The unit will generate employment for over 10,000 locals," Gadkari said after

presiding over a meeting of the concerned officials recently. He said 200 acres of land will be given to Patanjali in Katol MIDC (Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation) area, about 40 kms near here, for an orange processing unit.

"The land will be handed over within a month and the government will also provide the required infrastructure there. Land will also be provided in Amravati for a food park," added Gadkari, who represents Nagpur Lok Sabha seat.

The minister said there is a lot of scope for setting up a medicinal herbs unit in Gadchiroli.

"Of the 300 or so herbs, 200 can be grown in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts alone. Patanjali will set up a unit to manufacture herbal medicines in Gadchiroli," he said.

Gadkari said the Patanjali will also train tribals of Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts to grow these herbs. He said Patanjali Yogpeeth is also mulling establishing a milk unit in the region, but it is in conceptual stage.

Ramdev's trusted aide Acharya Balkrishna said on the occasion that Patanjali has focussed on Vidarbha because farmers in the region are facing a major agrarian crisis.