The Hindu : Foundation for leather park laid

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 30, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Foundation for leather park laid

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI Dec. 29. The foundation stone for the prestigious `Malupu complex' --meant to house the mini, medium and mega leather parks-- was laid at Kambaakam village of Varadaiahpalem mandal in Satyavedu constituency on Sunday.

Four Ministers of the State, Kodela Sivaprasada Rao (Medical and Health), Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy (LIDCAP, SSI and DWCRA), P. Babumohan (Labour) and J.R. Pushparaj (Social Welfare), laid the stone for the complex being built by the Leather Industries Development Corporation of AP (LIDCAP). Major Irrigation Minister, Kadiam Srihari, who was to have taken part, could not make it though he was at Srikalahasti (a few kilometres from the venue), busy reviewing the Telugu Ganga project.

The complex was actually meant to house a mini-leather park (for the benefit of individual artisans) and a medium park (for the benefit of tanneries). However, on the request of the local MLA, N. Sivaprasad, the LIDCAP agreed to extend the complex for a mega leather park too, which covers multinational companies dealing in leather products.

In his address, the LIDCAP's vice-chairman and managing director, T. Krishna Prasad, said `Malupu' is the outcome of the State Government's exercise to retain the loss of sales tax to the tune of Rs.100 crores with the exodus of leather artisans to the neighbouring states. Further, it was found that the scheme would provide employment to 10 lakh persons.

He said the corporation had proposed starting 94 leather parks in the next five years, including 72 mini, 16 medium and 6 mega parks in the State. This one at Kambakam is the first one of its kind in the State with all the three categories of parks being put up in a single complex.

Mr. Prasad said `Malupu' is aimed at improving the workmanship of artisans by providing training and sophisticated tools to them and even arranging marketing of the finished goods. One hundred master trainers would be sent to the prestigious Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, for basic training in leather and to the FDDI, Noida, for advanced footwear design and development.

In Chittoor district, it is proposed to set up mini-parks at Madanapalle, Renigunta and Kuppam, a medium park at Renigunta and mega park at Gangadhara, Nellore. Kambakam will have all the three types.

District Minister Gopalakrishna Reddy said the Government knew that people would prove their mettle if given a chance and hence had come up with such a scheme for the leather artisans. District in-charge Minister K. Sivaprasada Rao felt the project would immensely benefit Satyavedu segment, having a 34 p.c. SC population.

Minister for Social Welfare, J.R.Pushparaj, hoped that the park would add value to the artisans' products. Labour Minister P. Babumohan said the artisans would get their due and middlemen would not be allowed to benefit in any process.

Former Minister and local legislator, N. Sivaprasad, thanked the Ministers and the Collector, P.V. Satyanarayana Murthy, for getting the project to his constituency to provide employment to 5,000 persons. Earlier, two senior artisans, Katamma and Gochi Mataiah, were felicitated. Puttur MLA R. Rajasekhara Reddy, TDP district convenor G. Rameshchandra Prasad and TTD board member G. Srinivasulu were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

Stories in this Section

Bt Cotton dashes hopes of ryots

`Telangana Garjana' to be held on Jan. 6

Foundation for leather park laid

BJP a nationalist force: Dattatreya