IL&FS to help set up state-of-the-art textile processing park in Cuddalore

IL&FS, one of the partners in the textile processing park to be set up at Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, has been appointed the nodal agency for overseeing the setting up of the shared infrastructure. It will also oversee operations and maintenance.

South Indian Mills Association (SIMA) and State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (Sipcot) will jointly set up the park. Sipcot has already earmarked 1,100 acres of land for the purpose.

The association is laying great store by this project as it will both give the cluster state of the art infrastructure and eliminate the chronic environmental problems that have beset Tirupur, the established textile knitwear cluster.

The frist phase will cover 300 acres with an investment of Rs 500-600 crore. The total investment will be about Rs 2,500 crore. This will provide direct employment for 15,000 people and indirect employment for 75,000 people.

The Tamil Nadu government is providing land at economical costs. "Most of the investment is coming from blue chip companies," said K Selvaraju, secretary, SIMA. The state government will reimburse 40 per cent of the investment per company up to a maximum of Rs 40 crore, whichever is lower.

The 300 acres already earmarked at the SIPCOT industrial complex's phase III is designed to accomodate 15 greenfield projects to process yarn, fabrics and garments. "Nine companies have confirmed their particiaption and many more have shown interest in the park and this is very encouraging," said K Sevaraju.

According to an estimate, the project will process a minimum of 6 lakh metres of fabric a day and this can give a boost to the export of value-added finished products from the state. The Tamil Nadu government has already agreed to dedicate a power station for the park.

"Our source of energy will be steam generation and since the Cuddalore port is nearby we can even import coal for this purpose," said Selvaraju.

SIMA also plans to build a storage and testing facility in the park. The construction will be world class and will meet international standards, whether it is processing or effluent management," said Vijay Venkatswamy, chairman, SIMA.

The Cuddalore processing park will handle problems such as lack of sufficient water for processing and difficulties in safe disposal of effluents. The area carries abundant ground water and sea discharge of treated effluent while remaining within the stipulated pollution norms is possible.

"The greatest advantage of the location is that if the situation arises, a desalinaton plant can be set up to draw water from the sea," said K Selvaraju.

Among the technology options looked into to handle the effluent including the disposal of solid wastes in the TPP are the water frugal technology and biological treatement.