Nashik estate to form electrical, engg cluster

To make local small-scale electricial and engineering industry globally competitive, the Nashik Industrial Cooperative Estate (NICE) has taken an initiative to form an "engineering and electrical cluster" of SSI units under the central government's Industrial Infrastructure Upgradation Scheme (IIUS).

Accordingly, Nice has appointed Mitcon Consultancy Services to chalk out the detailed project report (DPR).

Speaking to Business Standard, senior NICE member said that in today's competitive environment those who will offer quality products at minimum cost will survive.

As both the small and medium engineering and electrical industries have scattered in and around Nashik in large numbers, NICE has taken an initiative to form a cluster of SSIs under IIUS and provide them full infrastructure to globalise and standardise their manufacturing with minimum production cost so as to make business globally competitive. We have already appealed to SSI units to participate in the proposed cluster."

"Mitcon Consultancy Services have been appointed as a technical consultant for formation of the cluster. After survey of Nashik industrial areas for identification of appropriate cluster, Mitcon had submitted a pre-feasibility report to NICE and recommended formation of engineering and auto cluster at Nashik.

Now, Mitcon is chalking out a DPR, which is expected to be submitted shortly. The DPR will be presented to the central government. We have already met the mayor of Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) and submitted him a proposal for NMC's participation in the project," the senior NICE member added.

"The work of chalking out the DPR for Nashik's engineering and auto cluster is in progress. Now, we are discussing with NICE to finalise the components of the proposed cluster.

We are planning to chalk out the DPR shortly and present it to the government of India for its approval," said Rajendra Ghorpade, executive vice-president & HoD, bureau of Market Research & Infrastructure Services, Mitcon Consultancy Services.

Under the IIUS, the government gives 75 per cent financial assistance of the total project cost, subject to a ceiling of Rs 50 crore.

Fifteen per cent of the total project cost is financed by the stakeholders of the related cluster, while the rest (10 per cent) is contributed by the local authority.

Under the scheme, the ministry of commerce has approved 26 cluster projects in the country "� five in Tamilnadu, four in Gujarat, three in West Bengal, two each in Maharashtra and Karnataka and one each in Orrisa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Hariyana, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala.