Centre keen to set up textile park in Nagpur: Union Textiles Minister K Sambasiva Rao

NAGPUR: The Centre is keen to set up an integrated textile park here and has directed authorities to expedite acquisition of land for the purpose, Union Textiles Minister K Sambasiva Rao has said.

The district administration has been asked to speed up the process to take over 50 acres of land of now defunct Nagpur Sahakari Soot Girni (Co-Operative Spinning Mills) situated at Umrer Road here.

"Central government will give subsidy to the tune of 40 per cent on investment upto Rs 100 crore," Rao told reporters yesterday.

Earlier, he interacted with weavers and local industrialists. Rao said textile parks in Haryana and Puducherry are doing well.

Listing a number of measures to improve living conditions of handloom and powerloom workers, Rao said each powerloom unit will get Rs 30,000 for its upgradation and the expenses will be borne by the state and central government on 50:50 basis.

"After agriculture, textile is the biggest employment generation source. The poor and needy weavers will also be provided with housing at affordable cost under Rajiv Gandhi Aawas Yojna," the Minister said, adding that the Centre was committed towards ensuring three 'R's -- revival, reforms and rehabilitation.