Spun silk mill to get new lease of life

Sericulture Minister visits mill at Channapatna, holds talks with officials

Minister for Tourism and Sericulture S.R. Mahesh at the Government Cocoon Market (left) at Channapatna in Ramanagaram district on Monday; (above) at the KSIC spun silk spinning mill

The State government, which has been aiming to produce cheaper Mysore Silk saris to cater to the demands of the lower middle class category customers, is contemplating rejuvenating the historical spun silk mill of Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) at Channapatna in Ramanagaram district.

S.R. Mahesh, Minister for Tourism and Sericulture, inspected the mill on Monday and held a discussion with the officials concerned, sericulturists and silk reelers.

The Minister underlined the urgency/importance of rejuvenating the mill to enhance the productivity of the KSIC besides improving the livelihood of sericulture-dependant families of the region.

Rs. 8 crore allocation

Initialy, the government would re-open a unit of the mill. Measures will be initiated for the complete rejuvenation of the mill, going further. A sum of Rs. 8 crore will be released for the purpose, Mr. Mahesh said.

Sophisticated showroom

Keeping in view the sale of fake/substandard silk saris, the KSIC is planning to establish a sophisticated showroom at Channapatna to sell authentic and pure silk saris. It would offer varieties of uniquely designed and smooth-textured silk saris to the buyers.

Park construction

The Minister said he has instructed the officials concerned to demolish the dilapidated building on the premises of the mill and construct a park.

Cocoon market

Mr. Mahesh also visited the Government Cocoon Market at Channapatna where sericulture growers raised their concern over fall in prices of silk cocoons.

Import of silk cocoons is affecting sericulture growers and remedial measures would be taken to improve their livelihood, he said.

Established in 1932, the mill at Channapatna had produced several lakh silk saris, without compromising on the quality, for several decades.

There was a great demand for Channapatna mill’s products even in foreign countries. Nevertheless, the mill had to stop production in 2002.

Ramanagaram is one of the major sericulture producing districts in the country.

The Government Cocoon Market in Ramanagaram town is considered as the second largest cocoon market in Asia.