ITC’s Chirala Green Leaf Threshing plant completes 100 momentous years of
operations
A champion in community development and sustainability, the facility is known as the testing
ground for path-breaking innovations
Chirala, Andhra Pradesh, 12th November (praja amaravati): Crossing a historic milestone, ITC Agri Business
Division’s Chirala factory in Andhra Pradesh has completed 100 glorious years of operations.
Popularly known as the Chirala Green Leaf Threshing (CGLT) plant, the factory with three
processing lines, has the highest processing capacity for a single location. Set up in 1922, the
Chirala factory is also the largest among ITC’s three threshing factories.
The state-of-the-art Chirala factory has been a pioneer in the areas of energy conservation,
mechanization, automation, digitalization and employee safety. Known as a testing ground for
path-breaking innovations, the factory has areas fast adopted technologies such as introduction
of laser technology and implementation of Industry 4.0. It was also an ‘industry-first’ in terms of
conceptualising and putting in place manufacturing lines utilising 4 level high piggy-back units
that significantly enhanced efficiencies and outcomes.
The plant is an exemplar in sustainable practices. The integrated facility with incoming, in-process
and final product all at a single location, is highly energy efficient. Adopting a low carbon growth
path, the unit has been running on green power through ITC’s 46 MW Wind Park at Anantapur.
The plant targets to achieve a renewable energy share of 94% in 2029-30 from 21% in 2018-19.
The unit is also an exemplar in waste management, recycling more than 99% of its generated
waste.
Since its inception a century ago, this factory has played a major role in employing the local
people to play a gainful role in stabilizing the region and enabling economic growth in the area.
In line with ITC’s vision to create larger societal value, the factory has been carrying out multiple
social welfare and development initiatives that have resulted in transformative social change
include improving quality of education and supporting government schools with infrastructure,
expanding the green cover in the region, promoting hygiene and sanitation-related practices
among local communities, and assisting households and individuals affected by natural disasters
and calamities, including the recent Covid pandemic. ITC also undertakes several other social
initiatives in the region in the area of Health, Solid Waste Management, Future skilling & Vocational Training, Women empowerment, among others. The factory is also the largest direct
employer in Chirala.
The unit’s meaningful contribution to the social transformation of the area for a century has
earned the plant the epithet of a ‘Thalli’ (Mother) company. Nearly 20% of staff at the facility are
third and fourth generation employees who have a strong emotional connect with the unit.
A winner of multiple awards for safety and environment, the Chirala factory has also been
felicitated by national and international bodies on numerous occasions for business and process
excellence. The plant has received the Sword of Honour from the British Safety Council for 14
years. It has also been conferred the Sarva Sreshta Puraskar Gold award by the National Safety
Council and has won ‘Platinum Award’ for ‘Systematic and Sustainable Energy Performance’ from
Society of Energy Engineers and Managers (SEEM) earlier this year. Other coveted awards include
the Gold Medal – Foundation for Excellence in Business Practice (FEBP) United Nations, Geneva
– 2003; the Best Management Award Govt. Of Andhra Pradesh – 2015 to 2018; Excellence in
Employee Relations – 2019: Employers Federation of India; CII: Most innovative - Digital
Transformation Award – 2021, among others.
“ITC’s Green Leaf Threshing plant takes pride in being an iconic landmark of Chirala with a
century-old relationship with farmers and the people of the region. The world-class facility is an
exemplar in innovation, employee safety and sustainability standards. As we commemorate this
special occasion of completing 100 years of operations, we would like to celebrate our
achievements and collectively work for an even brighter future for the factory and the ecosystem in Chirala. This journey of 100 years is undoubtedly a tribute to all our stakeholders
including farmers, customers, partners and our dedicated employees past and present and we
would like to thank each one of them for their contribution said Mr. H N Ramprasad, SBU Chief
Executive, Agri Business, Leaf Tobacco Business, ITC Ltd.
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