Kerala will set up NIFT unit at Kannur: Kareem

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 18 (UNI) Kerala Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem today told the state Assembly that the government would set up a National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) in Kannur.

Replying to questions by Ms K K Shylaja Teacher (CPM) and others, he said the government had received an assurance from the Centre following a request by the state government and discussions with Union Textile Minister Shanker Singh Vaghela in this regard.

Mr Kareem said the government had appointed KINFRA as its nodel agency for the preliminary work to set up the NIFT's centre in the state.

It had already earmarked Rs three crore and transferred Rs one crore to the KINFRA's account for starting preliminary works to the Rs 58.65 crore project, he said and added the Union Government had agreed to depute a team of officials to conduct the feasibility study of the project.

Though in the past such centres had been granted to states if basic infrastructure was provided, the norms in this regard had now changed completely and the entire expense and land for setting up the institute should be borne by the state concerned, he informed.

However, at any cost the government would bring the NIFT unit at Kannur and it was expediting the process of releasing 3.77 acre of land at Morazha village in Taliparamba for the purpose, he added.

UNI