Integrated Textile Park to be set up at Kanjikode

Palakkad, Nov 19: An Integrated Textile Park (ITP) is coming up at Kanjikode in the district with facilities of international standard.

Being developed by the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KINFRA) in the the Kanjikode-Pudussery- Walayar industrial belt having a number of textile and hosiery units, the Park is expected to attract huge investments from the private sector.

The Park, to be developed in 350 acres, will have facilities like high quality testing laboratory, design, training, trade and display centres, warehouses and raw material units, KINFRA Manager(Technical) P S Chandrasenan told UNI.

The ITP was sanctioned under the Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP) of the Union Ministry of Textiles, Col Chandrasenan said and added that the Park was aimed at providing the textile industry with world-class infrastructure facilities to set up units. It would help textile units to meet international environmental and social standards.

The Ministry of Textiles would implement the project through a Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV). Industry associations and groups would be the main promoters of the ITP with the SPV having operational autonomy.

KINFRA would provide land and the Central Government would support the project by way of grant or equity to the tune of 40 per cent of the project cost subject to a ceiling of Rs 40 crore.

The 40 per cent Central grant would cover infrastructure and buildings, he said.

Initial work of the Park had begun with Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan laying the foundation stone. Textile units in the Park would be ready for production within three years,' Col Chandrasenan said.

Col Chandrasenan said as part of the first phase development work, KINFRA would provide infrastructure facilities like power and water supply and effluent treatment facilities. The project with an expected investment of about Rs 500 crore would employ 15,000 people directly and a few thousands indirectly. The ITP is expected to accelerate the economic and industrial development of the entire region.

Spinning mills to be set up by the private sector in the Park would be made available, facilities like integrated plants for weaving, yarn and cloth processing, units for woven garments and knit wears. Road connectivity, power, water supply and pollution control facilities would also be made available by the promoters.

Col Chandrasenan said four reputed firms had already agreed to set up their units in the Park.

Stating that at present China was leading the garments market in the world, he said the Park would compete in the world market against China.

KINFRA entered the textile park field with the setting up of an apparel park in 45 acres at Menamkulam in Thiruvananthapuram district.

The unit having all modern infrastructure facilities employ 2,500 people now. The number of employees expected to go up to 6,000 by next year, he added.

As per the Textile Vision-2010 formulated by the Union Government after interaction with the industry and export promotion councils, India's share in the world textile trade was expected to rise to eight per cent from the present four per cent by 2010.

UNI