Karur textile sector's plea

Coimbatore: Different textile industry organisations in Karur, a major textile export hub, have welcomed the slew of concessions, announced in the Tamil Nadu budget.

However, the industry feels that the introduction of VAT, in so far as the cotton textile products are concerned, could be put off to a later date since at present there is no Central excise levy on them. In a statement, Mr M. Sivakkannan, President, Karur Textile Forum, and Mr M. Balraj, Secretary, said that the decision to abolish sales tax on hank yarn would benefit a larger number of weavers, apart from providing a boost to handloom product exporters. Free power supply to handloom weavers having their own sheds and to the powerloom weavers having their own looms would help to reduce costs and lead to lower prices of the products. This too would give a boost to exports of textiles. The Karur Textile Forum hoped that the Government would take up with the Centre the issue of sanctioning more textile parks in Tamil Nadu as it would help the industry create world-class infrastructure for textile manufacturer-exporters.