The Ceramic City proposal, in the cold storage for several years, is being revived with the Indian Ceramic Society (InCerS) deciding to form a core committee to pursue it before the authorities. As a first step, a delegation led by former Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited Y. Siva Sagar Rao will meet Minister for Infrastructure and Investment Ganta Srinivasa Rao to prepare a roadmap to revive the dream of developing a cluster of ceramic industries – the first Ceramic City of South India near Visakhapatnam. After a survey by AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, 150 to 200 acres of suitable land was identified at Kothavalasa, about 35 km from here in 2004. At that time, an investment of Rs.200 crore was mooted. As sourcing of raw material like clay, bauxite and limestone is easy, experts say a Ceramic City near Visakhapatnam will have a great future. Fly-ash and slag generated by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited’s Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, NTPC Simhadri Super Thermal Power Station and other local industries will also help produce wealth from waste by entrepreneurs setting up units in Ceramic City.“We want to replicate the success of Gujarat in promoting investments in ceramic sector. It has huge employment potential. First generation and MSME entrepreneurs will get a wonderful opportunity to invest,” Mr. Rao told The Hindu. InCerS has the technical know-how. It also wants to make use of expertise of Central Glass and Ceramics Research Institute (CGCRI) and start degree and post-graduate courses through Andhra University in ceramic technology – which have 100 per cent job opportunities.
The use of ceramics is extensive. It is used in implants, house decorations, steel industry as well as daily consumables. “Everything required for common man to the industry is met by ceramics,” said Atanu Datta, Deputy General Manager (Expansion), Cement Plant, RINL.