Date:10/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/02/10/stories/2006021003800300.htm

Karnataka - Belgaum

`Modernisation of powerlooms is inevitable'

Staff Correspondent

Weavers must adopt technology: official

The Centre has earmarked Rs. 625 crores to establish 25 textile parks in the country

Two textile parks sanctioned for Bangalore

Belgaum: Modernisation of powerlooms is inevitable if the stakeholders in this sector want to survive, let alone compete, in the highly competitive market regime, Development Commissioner for northern Karnataka V. Umesh has said.

He was addressing the owners of powerloom units at a seminar on `Modernisation of Powerlooms' here on Tuesday. The seminar was organised jointly by Karnataka State Powerloom Development and Powerloom Service Centre and Belgaum Jilla Nekarara Sangha.

He said with the WTO agreement coming into force, weavers need to adopt latest technologies to survive in the highly competitive market. On its part, the Union Government is implementing schemes to achieve the target of $80 million from the present $39 million from textiles sector by 2010. The Centre has earmarked Rs. 625 crores to establish 25 textile parks in the country. Deputy Commissioner Shalini Rajneesh observed that the problems confronting the owners of powerloom units and weavers were mainly due to poor productivity from the traditional looms.KSPDSS Managing Director D.S. Vishwanath, who presided over the inaugural function, said the Government has already sanctioned two textile parks for Bangalore.