150 crore aid for powerloom industry.

SURAT: The maiden visit of Union textile minister KavuruSambasivaRao has turned out to be a jackpot for the country's biggest man-made fibre (MMF) industry in the city.

The Union minister has announced Rs 150 crore worth of scheme for upgrading the conventional powerloom machines in the city.

Official sources said the scheme is directly going to benefit over 2.5 lakh powerloom machines, which fall under the category of 'plain looms'. The financial assistance would help the weavers to upgrade their powerloom machines to semi-automatic looms.

Rao, while talking to TOI, said, "As per the survey by the textile commissioner's office, about 40 per cent of powerloom machines in the city falls under the category of plain looms. I have proposed Rs 150 crore worth of upgradation scheme for such powerlooms. This would help weavers to increase their production."

Asked about the increasing export of yarn and the need to abolish anti-dumping duty, he said, "I firmly believe that the weaving industry should not suffer due to the export of yarn. But at the same time, anti-dumping duty cannot be removed overnight. I will take up this issue with the concerned ministries at the Centre."

Rao said there is an urgent need to create skilled manpower for the textile industry. The textile entrepreneurs should join hands with the textile commissioner's office in this connection.

He said out of the total 57 integrated textile parks across the country, six are up and running in and around Surat. The ministry will consider giving more permissions for setting up textile parks in the city.

Source : timesofindia.indiatimes.com