Telangana wishlist for Union Budget: Funds sought for handlooms, textiles

Hyderabad: Municipal Administration Minister KT Rama Rao on Thursday sought funds from Centre for development of Handlooms and Textiles in Telangana. In a letter to Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Zubin Irani, he sought funds from the Union Budget 2021-22 for the development of Kakatiya Mega Textile Park (KMTP), and sanction of Mega Powerloom Cluster at Sircilla and sanction of certain proposals for the development of Handlooms and Textiles in the Telangana State.

The minister mentioned in his letter that the KMTP at Warangal would take off in 2021-22. "The total cost of the project is estimated to be Rs 1,552 Crore of which the core infrastructure works would cost approximately Rs 1,094 Crore. Works at KMTP can be taken up immediately upon receipt of the proposed financial support under the Mega Textile Park scheme, said KTR requesting immediate release of Rs 300 Crore for starting infrastructure works.

KTR also wanted revised guidelines of the Comprehensive Powerloom Cluster Development Scheme (CPCDS) to be implemented beyond the 12th Five Year Plan (2017-18 to 2019-20) with an objective to develop the clusters that have a concentration of about (5,000) decentralized power looms or more by providing assistance to various segments such as infrastructure common facilities, other need-based innovations, technology Up-gradation, and Skill Development.

"As per the geo-tagging report of government there are 35,588 power looms in Telangana including 25,495 alone in Sircilla. The government is very keen to set up Powerloom Development Corporation to look after various marketing strategies under the Powerloom Sector.

The state government has been contributing a major share of Rs 756.97 Crore in the Project. With the strong presence of both handloom and power loom sectors and due to its economic significance, there is a need to strengthen the development of the sectors in the State by sanctioning the proposals," he added

The minister requested for sanctioning of the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) in the State. This would attract the youth to the Handloom sector and generate employment for them, besides contributing to strengthening the Handloom industry with the latest technological and design interventions.

He further stated that enough land with a constructed building facility is available at Handloom Park, Pochampally, Yadadri Bhongir district for the establishment of IIHT. He also requested for up-gradation of Powerlooms under the In-SITU Scheme and sanction of Block Level Handloom Clusters under NHDP.

He gave few suggestions to meet the immediate and medium-term requirements to protect industry and create more jobs for our people. The suggestions include, short-term policy support required, resumption of operations- Reassurance to workers, wage Support, statutory payments, Banking support, incentives to exporters, GST refunds, promoting manmade fibres, cotton procurement support, attracting investments by industry.