The Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) as launched by the Indian government has not worked as per plan. One reason is high rentals in some parks. There has been a lack of marketing efforts. No special benefits are available for investors in parks and many of the parks are not easily accessible.

Many SPVs were found violating norms as non-textiles units were operating from inside the parks. In fact, a report by Wazir Brothers has indicted my SITPs for not following norms. SITPs were launched in 2005 to encourage private investments and employment generation in the textile sector. The primary objective was to provide the industry with world class state-of-the-art infrastructure for setting up new textile units. The SITP was launched by merging two schemes, Apparel Parks for Exports Scheme and Textiles Center Infrastructure Development Scheme.

The parks would cover all segments of the textile industry such as spinning, weaving, knitting, processing and garmenting. These parks would include apparels and garments, hosiery, silk, technical textiles including medical textiles, carpet and power loom. There are suggestions SITPs should occupy a minimum 1,000 acres area, with infrastructure support in the form of readymade factory sheds, warehouse, effluent collection treatment and disposal systems, incubation centers and testing labs, first aid centers, with express connectivity to seaports and airports.