The Hindu : Front Page : Pat for Netaji Apparel Park

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 09, 2005

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Pat for Netaji Apparel Park

M. Gunasekaran

HI-TECH: It is the country's first and biggest apparel park. — Photo: M. Balaji

TIRUPUR: Secretary of Union Textiles Ministry, R. Poornalingam, is all praise for Netaji Apparel Park (NAP).

"The Centre had cleared 13 such parks few years ago. So far nothing has come up except this." Lauding local leadership for successfully establishing the park, he says, "Such parks should be created in India for taking the industry forward." Spread over 166 acres at New Tirupur on the Avanashi-Perumanallur National Highway, 14 km from here, India's first and biggest apparel park now provides employment to nearly 7,000 persons.

Promoted by the Tirupur Exporters' Association (TEA), NAP houses 60 industrial buildings with 20 lakh sq ft built-up area. So far, Rs. 95 crores have been spent on infrastructure. The Centre provided nearly Rs.14 crores as grant. "If you want another park ... take one more," Mr. Poornalingam assured while interacting with Tirupur exporters on Tuesday.

The Centre plans to create 25 integrated textile parks in the country with a maximum grant of Rs. 40 crores each.Of the 52 industrial houses in the NAP that was inaugurated in January, 32 are operational now. Remaining units are expected to become operational before the year-end.

Skilled labour

Lack of skilled labour is a major problem faced by the export town of Tirupur. Because of the park, garment units located in the town also experience shortage of labour, sources said. On manpower shortage faced by Tirupur, Mr. Poornalingam says he is happy about it since it shows that "we are developing".

"After the park becomes fully operational, nearly 20,000 persons will get employment,'' says TEA president A. Sakthivel.

The park has 2.2 MW captive power plant, telephone exchange, bank, sewage treatment system and uninterrupted water supply. Work on auditorium, buyers' lounge, crèche and a working women's hostel are underway. "By any standards - be it in size, aesthetics or entrepreneurs' participation - it is a model,'' says Mr. Sakthivel. On establishing a second such park, he says, "Exporters are interested and we are also considering... land cost is the constraint.''

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