Powerloom cluster planned

The powerloom industry in Gujarat, with the help of the Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL), has applied to the Centre requesting a mega-cluster be set up in the state. Simultaneously, PDEXCIL is setting up a powerloom cluster on its own in the region.

According to MS Mathivinan, chairman of PDEXCIL, the council is in talks with powerloom owners in the city, apart from applying to the Centre for a cluster.

"We have already set up 22 powerloom clusters in India and will be setting up one such in Ahmedabad soon. The fund allocation for the scheme is yet to be done," said Mathivinan.

He said though powerlooms in Gujarat, especially in Surat and Ahmedabad, have made a strong presence, it was disappointing when the Centre didn't announce a mega-cluster for the state.

"As a mega-cluster, powerloom players get benefits in the form of subsidies of Rs 70 crore each, CAD-CAM and training facilities from the government. We hope to offer similar benefits to the cluster in Ahmedabad," said Mathivinan.

Finance minister P Chidambaram in his Budget this year had announced setting up of powerloom mega-clusters in Erode and Bhiwandi drawing flak from the textile industry in Gujarat.

With the help of PDEXCIL, the industry now hopes to revive its dream of having a mega-cluster.

"If the proposal gets approved, the industry will definitely get a fillip. At the same time, the upcoming powerloom cluster by PDEXCIL is a boon for over 2,500 powerloom players in and around Ahmedabad," said Gangaram Patel, secretary of Ahmedabad Powerloom Owners' Association (APOA).