Talking to reporters, Textile Commissioner (Mumbai) B C Khatau said of the 100 units that had applied for the TUF, only 35 were small-scale units. ``The majority (to apply for the scheme) are spinners and processors, mostly from South India'', he said.

The 100 applicants, Khatau said, would go in for technology upgradation worth Rs 7,000 crores. They had sought Rs 4,500 crores in loans, of which recognised banks had sanctioned Rs 500 crores till date. Of this amount, Rs 30 crores had already been disbursed, he added.

Thirty-nine banks all over the country, working under the Small Industrial Development Bank of India, are authorised to finance the project for the SSIs. However, no cooperative banks are involved in the venture.

The textile ministry was considering including cooperative banks for refinancing and direct financing, Khatau said. ``There won't be any SIDBI interference in clearing the projects or loans'', he added.

Dispelling misconceptions on financing, the textile commissioner said no limits were involved. Individual units can avail of any amount of funds, starting from Rs 5000, provided their projects met TUF guidelines, he added.