By M. Gunasekaran
The Hindu
TIRUPUR,
APRIL 5, 2005
A group of leading exporters in Tirupur is showing interest in setting up its own processing units in the proposed Textile Processing Park (TPP) in the SIPCOT estate in Cuddalore. The Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) is facilitating setting up of the 300-acre park.
A team of industrialists led by Senthil Kumar of BKS Mills here visited the proposed site recently. According to him, Tirupur-based Eastman Exports, KPR Mills, Leeds Spinning Mills, Jayavarma Spinning Mills and Palladam-based Subhashree Mills and Vijayeswari Textiles Limited of Pollachi, are showing interest in setting up the processing units in Cuddalore. Apart from this, half-a-dozen leading textile houses from Coimbatore, Salem and Tiruchengodu will be the prospective stakeholders from the western region of Tamil Nadu.
Abundant groundwater
“All the leading exporters who visited the site are happy with the project since the cost of water is cheaper as Cuddalore has abundant groundwater. Road connectivity is excellent and we could save much on effluent treatment,” said Mr. Senthil Kumar.
According to the SIMA president, Vijay Venkatasamy, 50-60 persons have lined up to set up their units. The TPP will have large units, with about 12-15 units investing around Rs. 1,000 crores. “The marine discharge will be more suitable, cost-effective and no harm will be done to the environment.”
The green field project envisages providing direct employment for 5,000 people and indirect employment to 50,000 people through garmenting and other activities within the State. According to an estimate, the project will process a minimum of six lakh metres of fabric a day and this would give a fillip to the export of value-added finished products from Tamil Nadu.
Apart from the units in Madurai, Rajapalayam, Kovilpatti, Dindigul, Theni and Chennai, the big textile houses from Andhra Pradesh and Kerala are interested in participating in the project, sources said.
The SIMA and SIPCOT would jointly implement the project through a Special Purpose Vehicle in coordination with the Union Ministry of Textiles and the State Government.
Effluent treatment and discharge would be monitored by an independent agency to ensure better compliance.
“The greatest advantage of the location is that in future, if the situation arises, desalination plant could be set up to draw water from the sea,” said an exporter.
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