Apparel Park remains an elusive dream
When the government proposed an Integrated Apparl and Textile Park way back in 2004, the denizens who were tired of dreaming the revival of Azam Jahi Mills, the only industry in Warangal, believed that it was a godsend opportunity for them.
Warangal: When the government proposed an Integrated Apparl and Textile Park way back in 2004, the denizens who were tired of dreaming the revival of Azam Jahi Mills, the only industry in Warangal, believed that it was a godsend opportunity for them.
But a dozen years down the drain, the apparel park still remained an elusive dream for the locals, despite the fact that Warangal is strategically located and endowed with all the resources required for the industry.
In a bid to provide employment to the locals, the then Telugu Desam government planned to establish Apparel and Textile Park on the Azam Jahi Mills’ land through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) with the assistance from the Centre.
The aim of the project is to incorporate state-of-the-art powerlooms and other facilities for the handloom and garment clusters with an eye on promoting exports and design research on par with the growing market needs.
Since the then Irrigation Minister Kadiyam Srihari laid the foundation stone for the apparel park on February 19, 2004, neither the TDP government nor the Congress which won back-to-back elections in 2004 and 2009 in the State apparently made no effort to take the project forward.
When The Hans India sought to know about the status of the Apparel Park, Handlooms and Textile Department Assistant Director M Raghunandan Reddy said: “The government has not taken any decision on the Apparel Park, and the land admeasuring about 27 acres in the Azam Jahi Mills earmarked for the purpose is still in our possession.”
However post bifurcation; it appears that all is not lost with the new government coming up with an ambitious plan to establish a textile park, and a garment cluster to generate employment opportunities to the locals. Although the government didn’t mention establishing of the Apparel Park, together the textile and garment cluster is almost tantamount to apparel industry activity, it’s learnt.
The move is also expected to bring back those working with the textile and garment industry in Surat, Bhiwandi, Solapur and other places in pursuit of livelihood. Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) Zonal Manager Raman Rathod said: “The authority, which acquired land on the suburbs of tri-cities near Madikonda for the purpose, handed over 60 acres to the 360-member Kakatiya Textile & Weavers Welfare Podupu & Parapati Paraspara Sahayaka Sahakara Sangham. This apart, another 45 acres have been earmarked for the proposed Garment Cluster.”
Sangham president Darga Swamy said that there is huge scope for the growth of textile and garment industry as district is endowed with all the resources. This apart, cotton is cultivated in nearly 2.47 lakh hectares in the district. It’s learnt that TSIIC has another 50-odd acre at its disposal in case the government wants to develop a full-fledged Apparel Park.
