Minister for Handlooms and Textiles K.T. Rama Rao, during a review meeting on Saturday, set the deadline of September end, for handing over saris to be distributed on Bathukamma festival.
He asked the master weavers from Sircilla who have been given the order of producing the saris to work double shift and increase the looms if need be, for handing over the 90 lakh saris scheduled for distribution.
Officials informed the Minister that, as of now, 10,000 looms are working on production of Bathukamma saris. The weavers represented by Max Society of Sircilla said at least 20,000 looms are required to meet the targets, and assured him of results.
Mr. Rama Rao directed the officials to tour Sircilla at least four times a week, besides monitoring the work from Textiles Commissionerate. He said a meeting will soon be organised to discuss loan facilities for the weavers, issue of low interest loans under Mudra scheme and other issues with bankers. After inspecting the Bathukamma saris from Sircilla, he assured the weavers of bringing their problems and challenges to the notice of Union Minister for Textiles Smriti Irani during his next Delhi visit.
The Minister also reviewed the status of apparel parks in Gundla Pochampalli and Pasha Mailaram, and enquired about the progress achieved in implementing his earlier orders to TSIIC to evict those who set up non-apparel industries from the parks.
Officials said notices have been issued in this direction, but a few of them have sought time to set up industries related to apparel manufacture. Mr. Rama Rao asked them to obtain undertakings towards this from the industries concerned. He also checked the models for development of Gundla Pochampalli, an expansion plans of TESCO (Telangana State Handloom Weavers Cooperative Society), a press release informed.
