Fokia offers land to Morbi ceramic units
Nimesh Khakhariya | tnn | Mar 8, 2019, 04:00 IST
Rajkot: At a time when the famed Morbi ceramic industry is under fire with the National Green Tribunal ordering all the units using coal-based gasifiers to switch to gas-based ones, the Federation of Kutch Industries Association (Fokia) has come to rescue of these units. The federation has extended support to the Morbi Ceramic Association and offered them to relocate its units to Kutch district to deal with issues of pollution.
Nimish Fadke, managing director of Fokia, said, “We are offering ceramic units all possible help including getting environment clearance, water connection, gas and electricity besides getting approvals from the government.”
When asked about the land availability, Fadke said, “The GIDC in Kutch has nearly 400-acre land near Chirai and we can help by convincing the GIDC to develop this portion as a ceramic cluster and provide land at reasonable rates.” Nearly 400 units can shift to the GIDC, he added.
Currently, the ceramic units are spread across Wankaner, Halvad and Malia which is the entry point to Kutch.
Fokia argued that the ceramic industry should come to Kutch because majority of their exports is done through Kandla and Mundra ports. Also, the machinery that the industry imports comes through these two ports, it added.
Commenting on Fokia’s proposal, Nilesh Jetparia, president of Morbi Ceramic Association, said, “We fear that we won’t get skilled labour and manpower in Kutch like here in Morbi. Also, the members are reluctant to relocate because some industries that have shifted to Kutch in the past have not been that successful. We plan to address the pollution issue in Morbi first.”
Mumbai-based industrialist Talakshi Nandu, who had to close down his ceramic unit in Kutch that he had set up soon after earthquake in 2001, is also offering to provide private land to develop ceramic cluster. Nandu said, “I have land near Bhachau where nearly 50 units can start production. If more units are willing to come I am ready to purchase more land from private owners.”
The recent NGT order will impact about 550 units out of the total 1,000. The turnover of Morbi’s ceramic industry is pegged at Rs 40,000 crore with annual export potential of Rs 12,000 crore.
The industry, which is facing tough competition from China, fears that switching fuel will increase production cost by 10%.
Nimish Fadke, managing director of Fokia, said, “We are offering ceramic units all possible help including getting environment clearance, water connection, gas and electricity besides getting approvals from the government.”
When asked about the land availability, Fadke said, “The GIDC in Kutch has nearly 400-acre land near Chirai and we can help by convincing the GIDC to develop this portion as a ceramic cluster and provide land at reasonable rates.” Nearly 400 units can shift to the GIDC, he added.
Currently, the ceramic units are spread across Wankaner, Halvad and Malia which is the entry point to Kutch.
Fokia argued that the ceramic industry should come to Kutch because majority of their exports is done through Kandla and Mundra ports. Also, the machinery that the industry imports comes through these two ports, it added.
Commenting on Fokia’s proposal, Nilesh Jetparia, president of Morbi Ceramic Association, said, “We fear that we won’t get skilled labour and manpower in Kutch like here in Morbi. Also, the members are reluctant to relocate because some industries that have shifted to Kutch in the past have not been that successful. We plan to address the pollution issue in Morbi first.”
Mumbai-based industrialist Talakshi Nandu, who had to close down his ceramic unit in Kutch that he had set up soon after earthquake in 2001, is also offering to provide private land to develop ceramic cluster. Nandu said, “I have land near Bhachau where nearly 50 units can start production. If more units are willing to come I am ready to purchase more land from private owners.”
The recent NGT order will impact about 550 units out of the total 1,000. The turnover of Morbi’s ceramic industry is pegged at Rs 40,000 crore with annual export potential of Rs 12,000 crore.
The industry, which is facing tough competition from China, fears that switching fuel will increase production cost by 10%.
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