Mekhela sari: Textile players to take up issue of ban in Assam

SURAT: Surat textile weavers and traders have decided to make representations to elected BJP leaders with a demand to lift the ban imposed in Assam on the sale of mekhela saris manufactured on powerloom in Surat. The industry insiders claimed that businesses of over Rs 100 crore per month will be affected due to the restriction.
Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma last month had directed the handloom and textiles department to carry out a drive against ‘gamosas’, ‘mekhela-sadors’ as well as other products of powerlooms, which have posed a serious threat to the handloom industry here, from February to April .
‘Gamosa’ and ‘mekhela-sador’ are traditional Assamese clothes.
A meeting to discuss the issues related to mekhela sarees was held on Monday where members of the Federation Of Gujarat Weaver’s Welfare Association (FOGWWA) and textile traders participated. A segment of textile weavers and traders who deal in mekhela sarees were concerned over the restrictions. Mekhela Sador is a traditional form of saree made using cotton and silk. The original mekhela costs over Rs 8,000 but a saree made in Surat from polyester ranges between Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000.
“At present, there is a loss of about Rs 500 crore to the city’s textile business due to the virtual ban. Stock of Rs 150 crore worth of sarees is ready, Rs 150 crore worth of yarn and material worth Rs 200 crore is under production,” said Ashok Jirawala, president of FOGWWA.
FOGWWA handed over a memorandum to the union minister of state for textile Darshana Jardosh and Navsari MP C R Paatil explaining their demands.