The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : `Efforts on to reopen Channapatna silk unit'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

`Efforts on to reopen Channapatna silk unit'

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE, FEB. 10. The Minister for Sericulture, C. Chennigappa, said today that efforts are on to reopen the spun silk factory at Channapatna, which has been closed down owing to losses.

Addressing presspersons here after inaugurating a solar water heater plant at the Government Silk Factory, he said administrative lapses also led to closure of the Channapatna unit.

Lapses

Leaders of the Janata Dal (Secular), including the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, and the Working President, H.D. Kumaraswamy, have evinced interest in reopening the factory. Proposals in this regard will be submitted to the Government shortly, he said.

Funds

He said the Government will allocate Rs. 239 crores in the Budget for the revival of the sericulture industry. On the future of the industry, Mr. Chennigappa said the Government is initiating steps at various levels to make it competitive.

Later, addressing the employees of the KSIC, the Minister termed the closure of the Channapatna unit unfortunate.

The factory had been supporting hundreds of families. The sericulture industry played an important role in the socio-economic development of the State, he said.

He said the Government will take steps to protect the interests of employees and farmers engaged in sericulture.

"Middlemen in the silk market are deceiving farmers and some officers are involved in corruption. Chances of farmers losing interest in sericulture are more in such a situation," he added.

Profits

The Managing Director of the KSIC, P. Vijayan, said that till 2004, the KSIC made profits only in six financial years, and before its revival, the capacity utilisation was as low as 30 per cent.

"Of the 159 looms, 127 have been made functional. On an average, 30,000 metres of cloth is being produced every month now and capacity utilisation is 80 per cent," he added.

Plans

On plans for the future, he said the KSIC is making efforts to obtain ISO 14001 certification.

Earplugs will be distributed to the employees. On the solar water heater plant inaugurated today, Mr. Vijayan said it will bring down coal consumption from 40 tonnes to 20 tonnes a month. It is eco-friendly.

Mr. Chennigappa distributed certificates and cash awards to meritorious children of the KSIC employees.

The Chairman of the KSIC, Abu Mohammed, was present.

(Another report on Page 5)

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