Centre releases Rs 28 cr for Mysuru textile cluster

According to Mysuru-Kodagu Member of Parliament Pratap Simha, land has been identified for the proposed cluster at Srirampura, on the outskirts of the city

Centre has released Rs 28 crore for a textile mega-cluster in Mysuru.

The cluster for textiles, mooted to be set up in Mysuru, was approved in the 2014-15 Union Budget. Land has been identified for the proposed cluster at Srirampura, on the outskirts of the city, according to the Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha.

In this connection, Union Textiles Minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar is expected to visit Mysuru on February 8.

During his visit, he will inspect the land and hold discussions with the officials concerned under the chairmanship of Simha on setting up the cluster, he said in a release.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had announced setting up of eight textile mega-clusters at Varanasi, Bareily, Lucknow, Surat, Kutch, Bhagalpur, Mysuru and one in Tamil Nadu, and had allocated Rs 200 crore for the purpose to give a boost to the textile sector.

Mysuru is already famous for its silk products and was also well-known for its now defunct textile mills, the Sri Krishnarajendra Textile Mills, set up during the reign of the Maharajas that gave employment to a large number of people. Cotton is cultivated in the region, including in the H D Kote taluk.

The growers sell their produce to the mills in the neighbouring Tamil Nadu. A labour-intensive industry, textile cluster in Mysuru is expected to give a boost to employment, besides benefitting cotton growers in the region.

Besides, it will add to the three clusters already proposed for printing, packaging and general engineering. Hence, the textile cluster is expected to boost cluster growth in Mysuru which had pioneered industrial development by establishing industries in areas like sandalwood oil and silk that have given a brand image to Mysuru right from the days of Mysuru rulers.

Textile sector contributes about 14 per cent to industrial production, 4 per cent to the GDP and 11 per cent to the country’s export earnings. It is the second largest provider of employment after agriculture. The eight textile mega-clusters are aimed at increasing textile production and exports.