The Managing Director of Berger Paints India Ltd., Mr.Subir Bose today called on the Chief Minister at residence and informed his plans to set up water based paint plant at Hindupur in Anantapur district.

Welcoming the proposal of Mr.Subir Bose, the Chief Minister said that with the setting up of the paint plant, Hindupur will grow as a major industrial centre and the state is poised for further development with other paint majors showing keen interest to set up their plants here.

He thanked the Chief Minister for the allotment of 48 acres of land by the State Government for the purpose and appreciated the State Government officials for their best assistance.  The capacity of the plant will be 1,50,000 KL/MT per annum at an estimated cost of Rs.200 crores to be scaled up to more than 3,00,000 KL/MT per annum over a period of five years.  The total investment over this period is estimated at more than Rs.300 crores.  The direct employment potential will be 400 employees by the time the project attains full capacity, Mr.Bose said.  “We are the first major company to invest on a mega project in the Rayalaseema area and we understand that substantial interest has now been generated among various industries in and around Hindupur”, he added.

Mr.Bose said that their company has also proposed to put up a paints plant by its British paints division in Gollapuram Industrial Area near Hindupur which will have an installed capacity of 24,000 KL per annum of both water based and solvent based paints with an investment of Rs.25 crores which will generate direct employment potential of 160 employees.  Similarly it is also proposed to set up a manufacturing unit of plastic and metal containers by their group of company, Seaward Packaging Pvt. Ltd. at an investment of Rs.22 crore generating employment potential of 104 employees.  Thus with the forming of their mega paint complex in Hindupur, their total investment will be to the tune of Rs.350 crore and direct employment will be about 700 employees and indirect employment will be much higher, the Managing Director said.