Date:12/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/12/stories/2008091254390500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Cotton waste export to be banned soon

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: The Centre will soon ban the export of cotton waste, as ‘open-end’ spinning mills are facing an acute raw material shortage, Minister of State for Textiles E.V.K.S. Elangovan said on Thursday.

“The Textiles Ministry has already sent in its suggestion, and it is up to the Union Finance Ministry to take a decision. We expect the orders to be passed soon,” he told The Hindu on the sidelines of a seminar on ‘Techy trends in IT,’ organised by the Dr MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science.

Asked how the Centre planned to bail the State out of the energy crisis, Mr. Elangovan said: “Power is no longer a State issue; it is a national issue. The utmost planning is needed to deal with the crisis. The State government should take steps to generate more power instead of concentrating on implementing social welfare measures. If there is a proposal from the State, we will definitely do the needful.”

Mr. Elangovan said the cotton production had increased after the Minimum Support Price was announced for the coming season. Under the Cluster Development Programme, a textile centre of excellence would be set up at Erode.