The Andhra Pradesh state government has sanctioned three handloom clusters costing Rs.2.19 crore in Anantapur district, this was unveiled by Collector Kona Sasidhar, while addressing the district level Handloom and Jute Committee meeting here on Saturday.

Joint Collector II Syed Khaja Mohiuddin, Regional Director (Handlooms) V Kamaleswara Rao, Assistant Director D Pavan Kumar, DCAO Suryanarayana, LDM Jayashankar and the APCO District Manager were present for the meeting.

The clusters to be established in Rayadurgam, Peddapappur and Somandepalli were intended for bettering the lot of weavers. The government has released Rs 62 lakh for the clusters in the first phase, he added.

He directed the officials to spend the amount for the welfare of the members and ensure that the allotted amount should be spent for technology upgradation, marketing and for securing bobbins and reels.

The Collector said that there were 380, 298 and 290 members in Somandepalli, Peddapappur and Rayadurgam clusters respectively. The funds allotted to them were Rs 73 lakh, Rs 73 lakh and Rs 72.80 lakh respectively.