Empress Mills land sale State Cabinet approves tender process

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maharashtra Cabinet has given its nod for sale of Empress Mills land at Nagpur for the development of Garment Park. Three parcels of land admeasuring around 3 hectare were identified for sale to raise finance for the parks whose locations are yet to be finalised. The Maharashtra State Textile Corporation has fixed its price as Rs 160 crore. The Cabinet decision says, ‘It has given the approval to tender process for the sale of the plots 1, 2 and 8 of Nagpur’s Empress Mills. As per the Textile Policy, the decision of sale of the land owned by Empress Mills at Nagpur and Narsingji Girji Mill at Solapur has been taken. The amount raised through the sale of these properties would be used for the development of Garment Park at Nagpur and Solapur while remaining amount will be deposited in the treasury of Textile Development.’ Maharashtra State Textile Corporation (MSTC) had taken decision to close 9 mills in phase-wise manner in 1980, 1990. Finally, mills were closed during 2001- 2002.

 

Most plots of these mills were sold but the three plots of Empress Mills remained unsold. As far as the proposal of Garment Park is concerned, in 2018 the decision to develop it was taken. Then it was decided to sell the properties and develop Garment Park. Earlier in 2009-10, tenders were floated for the development of Garment Park in Solapur, Kolhapur and Nagpur, but there was no progress. Long ago, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had invited suggestions from the traders regarding Textiles Complex proposed on the Empress Mills land situated near Geeta Mandir. The complex was to be built on 14 lakh sqft. It was marked only for small and big cloth merchants. Now, Government has planned to create Maharashtra State Textile Development Corporation (MSTDC) like Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC). Maharashtra State Powerloom Corporation, Maharashtra State Handloom Corporation and Maharashtra State Textile Corporation will be merged and MSTDC will be formed. After selling the plots of Empress Mills, the money raised would be given to the department.

 

The new agency MSTDC will then take care of the Garment Park proposals. Government has prepared a draft for setting up MSTDC for which a committee under the Chairmanship of Secretary/Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary (Textiles) has been constituted on Friday. Deputy Secretary of Textiles is its Member Secretary. The members of the committee include Secretary/Principal Secretary/Addl Chief Secretary (Planning), Secretary/Principal Secretary/Addl Chief Secretary (Finance), Secretary/Principal Secretary/Additional Chief Secretary (Industry), Planner/Joint Secretary (Law and Judiciary), Joint Chief Executive Officer, MIDC, Mumbai; invitee nominated by Textiles Minister, Deputy Secretary (Sericulture), Deputy Secretary (Textiles).