Andhra Pradesh government is ready to allot 500 acres of land at Visakhapatnam for setting up a bulk drugs park, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced today.
"You have promised us the bulk drugs park. We are ready to give you 500 acres land for that at Visakhapatnam," the Chief Minister told Union Minister for Chemicals and Petrochemicals Ananth Kumar at the foundation-stone laying ceremony of the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology (CIPET) at Surampalli village near here.
The Chief Minister also said the government would allot 200 acres of land at Mallavalli village for setting up a plastics park.
"Plastic is essential for the growth of agriculture sector. Israel brought about a revolution in agriculture, which we need to emulate," Chandrababu added.
The Chief Minister hailed the Union Minister saying there was no shortage of urea in the country now.
"When Congress was in power, urea used to be supplied in police stations. Now, due to the efforts of Ananth Kumar, we don't have any shortage of urea," Chandrababu pointed out.
Ananth Kumar said one more CIPET would be established in Anantapuramu district of AP.
"The Vijayawada CIPET will produce agri-plastics engineers. In Anantapuramu, we will have a course in plastics waste management," the Union Minister said.
He said there was a need to integrate plastics with agriculture.
Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu said some people have lust for power, whereas Chandrababu has lust for development.
"Chandrababu is taking up development programmes with a foresight. He is dreaming of making the state into a Swarna Andhra Pradesh (golden AP). Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the country is racing on the track of development. The Modi-Chandrababu combination will lay a golden path for AP's development," Naidu said.
Referring to the Chief Minister's plea for Central assistance for the state's development, the Urban Development Minister said there was no need for concern as the Centre would fulfil its responsibilities.
Union Minister of State for Chemicals Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas (Nani) and others were present.
CIPET is one of the premier national institutes being set
up in AP following the bifurcation of the state.
While the state government has provided 12 acres of land for the institute, the Centre sanctioned Rs 50.73 crore.
CIPET began its training programmes temporarily from the Vijayawada Auto Cluster Development Company in August last year, offering specialised practical training in plastics engineering and technology. So far 675 candidates were provided training of whom 80 per cent secured jobs.
Existing plastic industries in the state at Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Rajamahendravaram, Kakinada, Guntur and Renigunta now hope to get trained skilled manpower once CIPET becomes fully functional, offering various diploma, graduate and post-graduate courses.
The Centre plans to train around 14,500 persons under 'STAR' - Skill Development, Technology-Support Services, Academic and Research in all the domains of plastics engineering and technology in the next three years to aid the growth of plastics and allied industries in the country.
While currently there are 28 CIPETs in different parts of the country, a few more will be opened in tune with the demands of the industry, an official release said.
As per the industry estimates, 1.18 million persons are directly employed in the plastics processing industries while the additional manpower requirement by 2023-24 will be 1.16 million.
