The property market stands to benefit from industrial development. In this context, R. RAMABHADRAN PILLAI lists a few manufacturing projects proposed by State government agencies.
Industries can act as change agents, transforming lifestyles, infrastructure and the property market in places where they set up shop. If they work out a green quotient, all the better.
State agencies are planning a few such ventures with private participation. One is for production of LED (light emitting diode) lamps for domestic use in Kollam. United Electrical Industries Ltd. in the district, a State government company, has come up with the project report.
The project envisages production of 1.2 lakh lamps a year. The plant, planned on 2.5 hectares of land, and machinery are expected to cost Rs. 2.62 crore. The working capital requirement is Rs. 6 crore, the report says. The company has started manufacturing static meters, in technical collaboration with the U.K.-based Aron Meters.
The key strengths of LED lamps are reduced power consumption and a high operational life.
A report from the company says LED lamps have an efficiency of 110 lumens a watt, much higher than the 65-80 lumens a watt of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), 45 of mercury vapour lamps, 75 of metal halide lamps and 94 of sodium vapour lamp.
A white LED lamp has an operational life of 50,000 to 80,000 hours, whereas CFLs burn for 5,000-10,000 hours, mercury vapour lamps 5,000 hours and metal halide lamps 8,000 hours, the report says.
LED lamps can withstand fluctuations in voltage unlike others. With no filament, they are immune to shock and vibration.
Low cost
“Total electricity and maintenance cost during the lifetime of LED bulbs is around one-tenth of that of normal bulbs. LED home lights can be designed to consume about 0.6 watt and are nearly equal in luminance to a 25-watt incandescent light bulb or an 11-watt CFL, with about 90 per cent savings of energy,” the report says.
Solar-powered LED streetlights are the best solution for minimising power consumption. LED lamps are expected to make major strides in the Indian market, with the market expected to reach $399.2 million by 2015 from $49.6 million in 2009 at an estimated compounded annual growth rate of over 40 per cent.
Hologram
Another project capable of making a difference is a new-generation holographic tax stamp production unit. The Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (KELTRON) has prepared a report.
The project, to be set up at Manvila in Thiruvananthapuram, will have a capacity of 12 crore tax stamps a month, using latest technologies in photonics and information technology.
The plant and machinery will cost an estimated Rs. 4.39 crore. The corporation is looking for partners for investment in the project.
The report notes that sale of second-quality Indian-made foreign liquor and illicit liquor causes a huge revenue loss to the government, apart from human casualties.
Authenticating each bottle, to identify the product and ensure that the distribution happens through authorised outlets, will hence help. A holographic tax stamp is a main tool used by the government and the enforcement agencies for the authentication. The tamper-proof stamp will help plug revenue leak.
Cigarettes and life-saving medicines too can utilise the tax stamp system for authentication.
Considering the demand from various sectors within the State and outside, the annual requirement of high-security tax stamps will be of the value of Rs. 250-300 crore. A few private companies produce tax security stamps and most States are compelled to get the stamps from them in the absence of key public sector players. Hence, the stamps produced by a government organisation in-house in a secure manner will have high market relevance, the report says.
Finding fish
A project to make echo-sounder-cum-fish-finders for commercial vessels, including fishing boats, is another proposal of Keltron.
The echo sounder is mainly used to measure the depth of the sea and home in on large shoals by transmitting a broad acoustic pulse and receiving the echo to measure the travel time and location. KELTRON can make the units in collaboration with any leading manufacturer.
A report prepared by Keltron says the equipment is imported at present at about Rs. 4-5 lakh.
The company expects that minimum 500 units a year could be marketed for the next five years.
The project is expected to be set up in Kochi with private participation.
