Bengaluru: The Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) is set to celebrate its centenary year on July 30. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will inaugurate the centenary celebrations while Union Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation D V Sadananda Gowda will be the chief guest. To commemorate the centenary year, 542 employees of the KSDL are expected to receive Rs 20,000 each as a gift.
The KSDL, then called Mysore Sandalwood Oil Factory, was started in 1916 by Nalwadi Krishna Raja Wodeyar and Diwan Sir M Vivesvaraya to extract sandalwood oil from sandalwood. The Mysore Sandal Soap was introduced into the market in 1918.
Speaking with media persons, Minister for Large and Medium Industries R V Deshpande said the KSDL has prepared a plan to install a 15,000 metric tonne capacity modern soap plant at an estimated cost of Rs 27.15 crore. Deshpande said the Cabinet had already approved the proposal for the new soap plant. The KSDL had registered a turnover of Rs 315.71 crore and posted a net profit of Rs 32.83 crore in the fiscal 2013-14 and Rs 357.02 crore worth turnover and a net profit of Rs 45.18 crore in the fiscal 2014-15. “The KSDL has achieved a gross turnover of Rs 476.76 crore and will be registering a net profit of around Rs 47 crore,’’ said Shamla Iqbal, Managing Director, KSDL.
The KSDL also plans to launch Mystic Agarbathis and Mysore Sandal Mango Hand Wash during the centenary celebrations. “We are organising a soap santhe for 10 days at the KSDL premises for the benefit of consumers. They can avail a 10 pc discount on all our products,’’ the MD said.
The KSDL had approached Karnataka Shilpa Kala Academy for the beautification of its premises. “The Karnataka Shilpa Kala Academy has sponsored 33 art directors to make 14 sculptures to be placed on the KSDL premises,’’ the MD said.
