The story
Piduguralla sits on large limestone deposits in the Palnadu region. Hundreds of small kilns burn the stone into lime used in construction, sugar, paper, chemicals and water treatment. The cluster grew because stone, fuel and rail links were close together. A cluster programme was taken up to improve kiln technology and market links.
In numbers
The Piduguralla burnt lime cluster had 392 units with a turnover of Rs 864 million and employment of 22,000 persons (2010-11 data).
Brief Industrial Profile of Guntur District (MSME-DI Hyderabad, DC-MSME) · 2011
Ways in for a newcomer
- Energy-efficient vertical shaft lime kilns
- Hydrated lime and lime powder packing
- Supply lime to sugar, paper and water treatment plants
- Transport and logistics
Problems the cluster faces
- Air pollution from old kilns
- Obsolete technology
- Weak market linkages
- Worker health and safety