West Bengal plans textile, jute parks

The West Bengal government has set an ambitious target of setting up 20 integrated textile parks, three jute parks, 50 additional handloom clusters, one integrated silk processing and printing complex (SPPC) and "an ultra-modern Integrated Textile Township" in the state in the next five years with public private partnership.

In its recently released textiles policy for the next five years, the state has been envisaged as a "robust outsourcing hub in Asia-Pacific", with the textiles sector accounting for 10 per cent of the state's gross domestic product and creating an additional employment for one million people by the year 2012.

Some other aspects of the policy includes, doubling the existing handloom output and attaining an export level of 10 per cent of fabric turnover, enhancing the number of active power looms in West Bengal to 20,000, thereby increasing the power loom output by at least 300 per cent, to achieve 180 million meters production by 2012.

The policy also aims to increase the existing readymade garments output of 400 million pieces of woven wear and 90 million pieces of knitted garments in the state by 300 per cent, and double the readymade garments export from West Bengal.

In sericulture, the objectives of the policy include spreading sericulture acreage from existing 51,000 acres to 68,000 acres and increasing raw silk production from existing 1,600 tonnes to 3,200 tonnes.

"The government has announced its textiles policy at the right time. Setting-up jute parks nearby jute growing areas would facilitate the farmers to dispose their produce directly at a remunerative price. In the integrated 'Jute Parks', the government should consider cluster development , up-gradation of equipment, designing and development of new products, skill-upgradation and marketing under one roof for jute diversified products," said Sanjay Kajaria, chairman, Indian Jutte Mills Association in his reaction to the policy.

An integrated textiles policy was the need of the hour, and would help the state catch up with states like Gujarat and Maharashtra, said Ashok Hazra, officer in charge, regional office of the textiles commissioner.