Cluster development programme remains grounded in Mysuru

April 25, 2015 12:00 am | Updated 05:47 am IST - Mysuru:

Mysuru was sanctioned a printing cluster, an engineering cluster, an auto cluster and a packaging cluster.— Photo: M.A. Sriram

Mysuru was sanctioned a printing cluster, an engineering cluster, an auto cluster and a packaging cluster.— Photo: M.A. Sriram

The projected small-scale industrial boom in the city fuelled by cluster development programme of the government of India has remained grounded as it has hit multiple road blocks, including local politicking.

The project envisaged domain-specific clusters for focussed development of industries in the SSI sector to create jobs and spawn additional ancillary units.

Mysuru was sanctioned a printing cluster, an engineering cluster, an auto cluster and a packaging cluster (on the Mysuru-Mandya border) and was expected to give a thrust to capacity building, technology upgrade etc., with 80 per cent funding from the government of India, and 10 per cent funding each from the State government and the stakeholders.

However, none of the clusters have gained traction and there are fears that the projects may lapse in case they are not established in another two years.

The printing cluster, which was in an advanced stage of launch, has taken a hit as some of the key machinery proposed for the project was rejected by the authorities ostensibly due to pressure by a local unit that perceived competition from the emerging cluster.

The auto cluster is yet to take off as it has become a bone of contention among local MLAs who want it in their respective constituencies. In view of the delay in completion of the printing cluster, there are few takers for investment in the general engineering cluster for which land is yet to be acquired.

In the meantime, about 100 stakeholders from Mysuru attended a review meeting of the cluster development programme in the city on Friday. Anil A. Uppin, Managing Director, Karnataka Council for Technical Upgradation and Additional Director of Industries and Commerce, Government of Karnataka, reviewed the progress. He opined that cluster development scheme had the potential to foster the growth of micro and small enterprises. Noting the delay in its execution, he underlined the imperatives of expediting the implementation process.

M. Shivashankar, Joint Director, District Industries Centre, referred to frequent clarifications sought by the government of India from clusters which was adding to the delay.

Cluster development concept envisages common facilities, including testing units for MSMEs and SSIs, which they cannot afford due to steep cost of acquiring the state-of-the-art machinery and help in technology upgrade to make the products more competitive in the market.

Besides the above mentioned clusters, Mysuru has also been identified for a mega textile cluster – of which nothing has been heard since its announcement last year in addition to Electronics System Design and Manufacturing cluster. Given Mysuru’s vast hinterland of rural areas with agriculture being the primary occupation and the presence of Central Food Technological Research Institute and the Defence Food Research Laboratory, stakeholders aver there is potential for food cluster which has remained untapped.

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