Printing cluster CFC hits major roadblock

Ludhiana: The proposed Common Facility Centre (CFC) of the Modern Printing and Packaging Cluster (MPC), Ludhiana, seems to have hit a big roadblock. Sans receipt of funding from the state government for its share for cluster, the cost of machinery has increased from Rs 15 crores to Rs 19 crores, pushing up the total cost of the project. The cluster representatives are now urging the state government to contribute Rs 4 crores, instead of Rs 2.70 crore.
Giving more information, Neeraj Gupta, MD of the cluster, said, “We had planned to install state-of-the-art offset printing and automatic die cutting machines. In order to start the CFC, we now require Rs 22 crores, instead of Rs 18 crores demanded earlier. Out of Rs 22 crores, Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) comprising of members of cluster has already made contribution of its share of Rs 2.74 crores, while Rs 15.87 crores will be given by centre, but only if the state government first contributes its due share of Rs 4 crore. We have already sent a request to the state government regarding the issue.”