The Telangana Government will set up a Foundry Cluster Park in over 170 acres at Nawabpet in Medak district, which can house 50 units.
“The land alienation proposals are in an advanced stage and I am confident that this Park will become functional this year itself. The park is expected to attract investments of Rs 300 crore once it is fully operational,” Pradeep Chandra, Principal Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Telangana, has said.
Addressing Sourecon-2004, the conference of Institute of Indian Foundrymen (Southern Region), here on Saturday, he said the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TIIFC) would establish the Park.
Referring to the issue of pollution caused by the foundries, he said foundry sand, a pollutant, could be recycled and reused. “Of late, sand prices have gone up considerably and this situation may continue for some more time in view of the stringent sand mining norms imposed by the Supreme Court. Recycling of used sand will make economic sense too,” he said.
He, however, said that small and medium-sized foundries could not afford to set up their own sand recycling facilities. “An industry owned and operated common waste management facility is the solution,” he pointed out.
“We will be happy to partner with the Foundry Association in setting up common sand recycling special purpose vehicle through the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation,” he said.
The country has about 600 foundries, with 80 per cent of them being in the small and medium units. About 25 lakh families depend on the industry, V Ramaswamy, Chairman of the Institute of Indian Foundrymen (South), said.
Telangana is home for 120 foundries with a total turnover of Rs 600 crore, with most of them being located in and around the State capital. Andhra Pradesh has similar number foundries.
Courtesy: The Hindu