Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani has assured a Rs. 100 crore Textile Park for Karnataka. Speaking at the inauguration of Textile sector Buyer-Seller meet and launch of Power Tex portal and mobile app in Bengaluru, Mrs Irani asked the State Government to provide land for the textile park.

As an assistance to silk weavers, she informed that her ministry is prepared to sanction five crore rupees for setting up of Yarn bank in the state.

Mrs Irani said, powerloom owners can upgrade their plain powerlooms to semi-automatic looms by availing Rs. 20,000 per loom incentive from the ministry.

For those adopting solar power, the ministry will provide 50 to 90 percent subsidy and for the future of Man-made fibre a road map is ready in collaboration with the textile industry.

The ministry has announced a package of Rs. 1300 crore for the skill development in the apparel industry.

After inaugurating the power tex portal and mobile app that provides information about various schemes and incentives of the textile ministry, Union Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister Ananth Kumar assured the silk growing farmers that their request to increase import duty on silk from 20 to 35 percent will be looked into under consultations with the Prime Minister.

AIR correspondent reports, the silk farmers have been demanding for duty increase but silk fabric manufacturers are seeking its reduction.

Hence Union Minister Ananth Kumar has asked both to come to a consensus and approach the Government.

The announcement of Textile park by the textile minister was welcomed by the textile industry in Bengaluru on Sunday.

Those finding it hard to buy silk yarns will benefit from the proposal to set up yarn bank. The minister has said her ministry will support any number of yarn banks proposed by the Industry.

Powerloom owners, she pointed out can upgrade their plain power looms to semi-automatic looms by availing 20,000 rupees per loom incentive from the ministry.

For those adopting solar power, the ministry will provide 50 to 90 percent subsidy.