As the union budget is about to be tabled Parliament on February 1, Telangana IT minister Mr K T Rama Rao has urged the central government to make allocations to projects in Telangana state.
In a letter written to Union Finance minister Ms Nirmala Sitaraman, he said the state government had taken up a Kakatiya Mega Textile Park in Warangal. He wanted the centre to allocate Rs 897.92 crore for infrastructure development in the park. The centre should also come up with a policy on Textile and Apparel sector manufacturing and development.
The Telangana government had acquired 1200 acres of land and embarked on the concept “fibre to fashion” provided necessary infrastructure and centre should also pitch in.
Mr Rama Rao also asked the centre to establish a mega power loom cluster in Sircilla and prepared a project with an estimate of Rs 993.65 crore. The centre should allocate 49.84 crore and help set up the textile park, handloom, apparel park and maintenance.
With a view to provide employment to youth and also help weavers, the state government introduced the `work to entrepreneur scheme. “The Telangana government is determined to spend Rs 756.97 crore.
The minister asked the centre to establish the Indian Institute of Handloom Technology (IIHT) in Telangana similar on the lines of one existing in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh state at Venkatagiri. “There is no institute in state offering diploma in courses in handloom technology,” he said.
There were facilities including enough land is available for setting up IIHT in Pochampally in Yadadri Bhuvanagiri district.
The minister hoped that the Centre will extend its support in the development of the jute and textile industry in the state.
By Gollapudi Srinivasa Rao