Date:10/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/10/stories/2008071054070400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Textile mills remain closed

Special Correspondent

Bangalore: More than 30 textile mills, employing more than 6,000 workers, in the State remained closed for a day on Wednesday in protest against the government’s decision to continue the export of raw cotton.

The nationwide one-day strike was called by the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry, which was also demanding the scrapping of the import duty on raw cotton.

The strike was implemented in the State by the Karnataka Textile Mills’ Association, which had also highlighted other issues of relevance to the cotton spinning mills in the State, in particular, the high cost of power.

Chairman of the KTMA C. Valliappa said the announcement of the Union Government’s decision on Wednesday to scrap the import duty on raw cotton and its decision to limit cotton exports to 70 lakh bales (each weighing 170 kg) “would be a shot in the arm for mill owners in the country.”

Mr. Valliappa said: “Cotton prices are likely to come down soon as those who have hoarded cotton will release the commodity into the market.” This, he said, would provide “relief to spinning mills in the country.”

He urged the Karnataka Government “to play a more proactive role by providing a level playing field to textile mills in the State, especially by improving the quality and cost of power.”