Hyderabad, Aug 4 (IANS): Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao here on Saturday urged the ITC to establish food processing units in the state. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said this when ITC Chairman Sanjiv Puri and other top company officials called on him.

KCR said food processing units were important to garner the support price for farm produce and supply quality food products to consumers.

Puri said construction of ITC's Rs 800 crore food processing plant at Manoharabad in the Medak district was almost complete and it would go on stream in 2-3 months.

Stating that there are 4.5 lakh women self-help groups in the state, KCR said their services should be used in procuring raw material and other works for setting up the food processing units.

The CM also asked ITC to open rayon grade and paper grade wood pulp and paper manufacturing plant in the Mulugu district. He also wanted ITC to come forward for developing tourism centres in the state.