Vemagal (Karnataka), Oct 24 Karnataka Minister for Large and Medium Industries M B Patil on Saturday inaugurated a new eco-friendly manufacturing facility set up by the Poddar Plumbing Systems Group at an investment of Rs 1,000 crore in Phase II of the Vemagal Industrial Area.
Speaking on the occasion, he said the facility would generate 3,000 direct jobs and manufacture pipes for export to overseas markets, in line with the State’s new industrial policy.
“After our government came to power, we approved Poddar’s investment proposal and allotted 33 acres of land to the company on 24 February 2025. The site was handed over in April that year, and the foundation stone was laid in July. Despite the complexity of the project, the facility has commenced operations within just a year. This is a testament to our industry-friendly policies,” he said, according to a statement issued by his office.
According to him, over the past couple of years, several companies, including the Krones bottling plant, the Airbus facility manufacturing H125 helicopters, Poland-based TZMO and M0 (M-Zero), have commenced manufacturing operations in the Vemagal Industrial Area.
The new facility will also house a skill development centre, he said.
Patil said the company should prioritise employment for members of families displaced by the project, ensuring that locals account for at least 60 per cent of its workforce.
The company will also build 150 houses for its employees and has been asked to construct a dormitory, he said.
The minister added that the government was not allotting land in industrial areas for warehouses, but was prioritising genuine manufacturing and other industrial units that generate employment and focus on workers’ welfare.
Poddar Plumbing Systems will manufacture quality pipes for plumbing and other applications, it said.
Patil noted that members of the Poddar family were also the founders of Ashirvad Pipes. After moving on from Ashirvad, they have launched a new brand under their family name, Poddar, after an eight-year gap. The family chose Vemagal for its investment, taking into account Karnataka’s favourable industrial environment, he added.
(PTI News)
