UP hires Price Waterhouse to revive Kannauj's scent industry

Lucknow, Oct 12 (UNI) The fragrance of Kannauj's 'attar' (scent) has been a craze among the connoisseurs for centuries.

Unfortunately, so far the potential of this largely unorganised industry has not been exploited properly. In a bid to launch 'Kannauj' brand of scent in the national and international market in a more organised fashion, the Department of Industries has -- after a long delay -- come forward with some initiatives.

As part of the initiatives, Udyog Bandhu (friend of industries) -- a government body -- has engaged reputed international agency Price Waterhouse Coopers to study the root causes of problems faced by the scent and fragrance industry of Kannauj and its potential with solutions.

Price Waterhouse Coopers representatives, in a presentation before senior officials of Industries department, said that entrepreneurs were facing crisis due to scarcity and high cost of natural raw materials used in making scents traditionally, particularly Mysore sandal.

They are forced to look for substitutes from other countries and wanted new distilleries to be set up for the processing of alternative raw material, the agency said.

The Uttar Pradesh government has decided to take promotional steps exclusively for scent and fragrances industry of Kannauj. This will not only act as a major booster for the traditional attar but would also generate employment in the area.

It would attract new units and projects along with facilitating the marketing and exports in an organised manner, official sourcessaid here today.

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