Bellary, Yadgir to get textile parks

Skill development centre for textile workers planned in Gulbarga

The Union Textiles Ministry has agreed to start new textile parks in Yadgir and Bellary and a skill development centre in Gulbarga for building capacity of workers engaged in textile production.

This was announced by Union Textiles Minister Kavuru Sambasiva Rao in the city on Monday. He was speaking to reporters after laying the foundation stone for basic infrastructure facilities at the Gulbarga textile park at the Nandur-Kesaratagi Industrial Estate on Shahabad Road.

The minister said that in view of the tremendous potential for export of garments and apparels, it had not only become imperative to open more textile parks, but also equip the workers with the necessary skills in tune with the modern needs.

Earlier at the function, Railway Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge made a demand for textiles parks at Yadgir and Bellary and a skill development centre in Gulbarga.

Rao said that the Gulbarga textile park, coming up on 50 acres of land with an investment of Rs 100 crore initially, has excellent opportunities for exporting garments.

“When the Gulbarga park starts operations, it should be able to export garments worth Rs 200 crore annually and the capacity can be enhanced further. The products of the park should be competitive and in tune with the changing needs and tastes of the people all over the world,” Rao said.

He said there was a dire need to develop the districts of the backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region industrially and promised to offer any help and assistance that is required to achieve the goals. Asked whether a fully 100 per cent export oriented textile park could be started, the minister said any textile park can export 90 per cent of its products.

If necessary skills are imparted to the workers, the textile products will have greater demand everywhere. He pointed out that Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh alone exports handicrafts worth Rs 4,000 crore annually as there is a skill development there. Similar success can be achieved by textile parks also, the minister said.

Replying to a question, he denied that cotton production had come down in the country. Last year, India produced 350 lakh bales of cotton and this year, the production is expected to reach 370 lakh bales. The domestic requirement of cotton is 290 lakh bales and the remaining is being exported.