Handloom Park to come up at Krishnapuram near Ponduru

SRIKAKULAM : In an attempt to give the Srikakulam weavers’ economic condition a boost, the government has proposed to set up a hadloom park at  Krishnapuram near Ponduru. The park will be set up in 25 acres with an estimated budget of `35 crore.

Keeping in view of the successful running of handloom parks in Pochampalli in Telangana and Chennanuru in Kerala, the state government is planning to replicate the same in Ponduru, which has carved a niche not only in national but also in international markets for its khadi garments.

Though the administrative sanctions for the project cost have been done, the authorities are awaiting the funds to be released. 

Meanwhile, the officials have identified around 10 acres of government land at Krishnapuram, while the rest 15 acres will be acquired.

With the marketing of the handloom products remaining an issue and many weavers are leaving their generations-old family profession owing to meager profit, the government has mulled to establish the handloom park,” says Srikakulam handlooms assistant director G Raja Rao, adding that the park would be proved beneficial for at least 500 weavers’ families.

Modern weaving equipment and high quality raw material will also be provided to the weavers in Ponduru and Laveru mandals, he said.  Further, the district administration is also planning to construct around 400 houses in the park for the weavers. 

With an aim of introducing modern techniques to the traditional handloom craft, the authorities are also planning to impart skill development training to the weavers, apart from providing modern looms and loan facility to procure yarn and other designing material. The park will provide the much needed marketing facility fro the weavers, he said.  

In the district, as many as 1,000 families eke out their living from weaving, but their daily wages never exceeds `300.  “If things go as planned, the handloom park will be set up by the end of the current fiscal year,” he added.