Leather cluster to come up near Tiruvannamalai

CHENNAI: The Central Government’s proposed leather cluster for TN, that was announced in the Union Budget 2011-2012, is likely to come up near Tiruvannamalai. The process of land acquisition and other formalities are underway, members of the Council for Leather Exports said on Monday. At a press briefing on the leather fair that is to begin here on Tuesday, South India Chairman of CLE, P R Aqeel Ahmed, said that the Small Industries Development Corporation has been roped in to set up the cluster that is expected to boost the leather sector in the State. “Almost 88 acres of the required 100 acres has been identified though the notification for the cluster is yet to come,” he said. While the pr- oject cost has been estimated at Rs 160 crore, whether additional funds would be required would be known once all modalities are completed, he said, adding that 80 per cent of the project cost would be provided by the government. The cluster is expected to be a one stop destination for everything connected with the leather industry- from manufacturing of leather goods to marketing.