Southern States
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Kerala
State Govt. move to save Titanium
By Our Staff Reporter
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JAN. 24. The State Government is initiating measures to save the Travancore Titanium Products (TTP) Limited, a public sector undertaking in Thiruvananthapuram, from the red.
The immediate steps contemplated include technological upgradation of the unit and the implementation of a professional marketing strategy, according to P.K.Kunhalikutty, Minister for Industries.
The monopoly enjoyed so far by the factory has ended, with the WTO agreement coming into play and the situation is such that the unit has to face stiff competition from manufacturers abroad. A country like China is prepared to export titanium products at cheaper rates to India.
However, the only consolation is that the titanium dioxide from China was comparatively of a poor quality, the Minister said at a press conference here this evening.
The unit is facing severe problems like increase in the prices of raw materials and hike in power tariff, which have resulted in an escalation in the production cost.
The thrust will now be on supplying to the customer, the product he demands, Mr. Kunhalikutty said.
The Minister, while admitting that pollution was a serious issue in titanium industry, talked of measures envisaged to bring it under control. A project has been finalised and global tenders will be invited for its implementation at the TTP, he informed.
In a bid to focus attention on the issues in the titanium industry, a national seminar has been planned in Thiruvananthapuram. The `Titania- 2002' is to be held on April 19 and 20. The logo of the seminar was released by the Minister in the presence of K.Mohandas, chairman of TTP.
The Minister also reiterated that the proposed mineral policy would soon be implemented in the State.
Meanwhile, K.P.Sankaradas, president of the TTP Employees' Union, owing allegiance to the RSP(B), has asked the State Government to ensure direct marketing of titanium pigment, getting rid of middlemen in the process.
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