According to Shashank Goel, executive director of the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), which is executing the project, the proposal has cleared the final hurdle and be ready in two months' time.

Talking to The Financial Express, Goel said that the pollution control board in its communication to APIIC on December 12, stated that the board will allow only non-indigo garments. Further, only alkali/enzyme washings of the garments will be allowed and no dyeing/carbonising activity will be permitted. The treated effluents shall be discharged into the public sewerage system, which was proposed by exporters' association, APPCB said. APIIC/apparel association should take the responsibility of laying the closed pipeline fordischarging the treated effluents into the public sewerage system with the consent of HMWS & SB.

The board also said that all the units shall obtain necessary CFE (NOC) from it before establishing as required under the Water Act. It laid down the parameters for the water let out by the units for disposal into public sewers.

Goel said the water coming out from the park will not be harmful. We will satisfy the pollution control board's norms/conditions. We are also holding talks with the sewerage board for the disposal of water into their drain and hope to get the approval. The 10-km long pipeline cost would be shared by the allottees, state government, he said.

When asked on the cost escalation, he said: "Though the park was proposed long back, there has been no change in land cost. Only the additional investment would be for the pipeline. We are implementing the project in the shortest period to see the project is cost effective." He said that the project is labour-intensive. The park is being set up onthe lines of Coimbatore and will have both the knitwear and woven fabric units in it. Training institutions like ATDC, NIFT etc have offered to supply manpower for the units, he added.

According to him, the state also proposed to set up first powerloom and food processing parks in Chittoor district.