Lotus Integrated Texpark, the first textile park to be set up in North India under the Central Government’s Scheme for Integrated Textile Park (SITP), has been inaugurated by Textiles Minister K Sambasiva Rao at Dhaula village in Punjab’s Barnala district.
The park, spread over an area of 100 acres, has been set up under the public-private partnership (PPP) mode by the Trident Group.
An investment of about Rs. 6 billion has already been made at the Lotus textile park for setting up of seven units, including units for mélange yarn spinning, fibre dyeing, terry towels, bathrobes, fabric dyeing and cutting, stitching and packing.
The textile park has created direct employment opportunities for 1,500 persons, while creating indirect employment opportunities for another 2,000 persons.
Speaking after the inauguration, Mr. Rao said the state of Punjab has contributed a lot in terms of food grains, and now it should take advantage of the Union Government’s schemes for promotion of the textile industry.
He listed several initiatives floated by the Central Government, like giving capital subsidy, rebates, and other benefits, for supporting the textile industry.
He also announced setting up of a Rs. 100 million Apparel Training and Design Centre in Barnala for imparting textile-related skills to 1,000 local people every year.
Punjab’s Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Malwa belt of the state was a textile hub, and hence to enhance the quality of cotton crop grown in the region, the Centre should set up a special cotton research and development centre for the region.
Mr. Badal sought three additional textile parks for the state, and said the state government would come out with a special package for the textile sector, if the three textile parks are sanctioned by the Central Government.
Trident Group chairman Rajinder Gupta said the planned investment outlay for the Lotus textile park is Rs. 8.5 billion, which envisages setting up a total of 10 units, out of which seven have been approved under the SITP and have now become functional.