The Hindu Business Line : AP sanctioned Rs 1 cr for cluster development

THE State will get nearly Rs 1 crore for development of 12 industrial clusters in agro, textile and components for the financial year 2004-05 from the Development Commissioner, Union Ministry of Small-Scale Industries.

The clusters to be created include imitation jewellery (Machilipatnam); mango jelly (Bhimli and Kakinada); turmeric processing (Duggirala); food processing (Vijayawada); readymade garments (Rayadurg); plastics (Adilabad and Nalgonda); graphite crucibles (Rajahmundry); electronics cluster at Kushaiguda.

The DC (SSI) has sanctioned funds ranging between Rs 5.54 lakh and Rs 10.79 lakh per cluster. The Industries Department of Andhra Pradesh had proposed a Rs 7.42-crore investment plan to create 14 clusters in the State, as part of its small-scale industries development efforts, according to official sources.

The Union Ministry of SSI, under its small industry cluster development programme has taken up six initiatives for promoting the programme which include conducting diagnostic study, carrying out industries-related research and development (R&D), setting up new technology demonstration plants, common facility centres, training of users and conducting seminars, study tours etc.

The Commissioner of Industries, AP, had proposed a consortia approach for developing the clusters. In addition to a consultant such as APITCO, NISIET, SISI etc., the project costs should be shared by the DC (SSI), cluster units, support institutions for setting up of a focussed cluster.

Based on this approach, the Commissioner of Industries and the consultants made presentations to the small industry development programme early this year on the proposed cluster development plan.

For an accelerated and effective implementation, the Commissioner of Industries has also constituted State and district-level co-ordination committees. It has also initiated training programmes organised by the National Institute of Small Industries Extension and Training.