Tamil Nadu has approved a cluster project for coir units in Pollachi and has disbursed rs. 2.14 cr as first phase grant for the programme. A group of coir units had formed a special purpose vehicle and submitted a project to the government to make coir tufted mats and coir geo-textiles. The State would give rs. 5.77 cr out of the total cost of rs. 7.98 cr.
The remaining amount would be invested by the industries. A facility was coming up at Vellalapalayam in Pollachi and was expected to be commissioned by the end of this year.
Thirty three units had come together to form the special purpose vehicle. These units would supply the raw material to the common facility centre, which would have tufting machinery and equipment to make geo-textiles. The value added products would be marketed by the special purpose vehicle, according to a report.
The coir units in Pollachi used to supply yarn to Kerala to be made into products. In recent years, China was importing a lot of fibre from Pollachi. Nearly 250 new units had come up because of the demand for fibre. But the challenge was that the buyers determined the price and the fibre price was low.
When the common facility is commissioned, almost 300 coir spinning machines will get jobs. The fibre made into yarn will be supplied to the facility where it will be made into value added products. The project will help coir units in Pollachi get into different product segments.
