Ashok threatens to launch ‘Save Mysuru Silk’ campaign if Govt. does not drop stadium project at KSIC unit in T. Narsipura

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Assembly R. Ashok joined the protesting employees of Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation’s (KSIC) filature factory in T. Narsipura near here on Friday, and threatened to launch a ‘Save Mysuru Silk’ campaign against the construction of a stadium in the factory premises.

Speaking at the protest site in T. Narsipura, Mr. Ashok said the BJP will raise the issue in the coming Budget session of the State Legislature, scheduled to start on March 6, if the Government does not drop the proposal to construct a stadium in the filature factory premises.

“We will not allow even an inch of the filature factory’s land to be used for construction of a stadium,” he said while assuring the protestors that the BJP will stand with them in their struggle. “We are ready to take out a padayatra on the issue,” he said.

Though the BJP is not against construction of a stadium, the party will not allow a profit-making industry like KSIC, which was established by the erstwhile Maharaja of Mysore, to be closed down. “Let them construct a stadium elsewhere. Why do they want the land of this factory for the stadium?” he questioned.

He said the KSIC, which produces the famed GI-tagged Mysuru silk sarees, had made a profit of ₹ 96 crore last year and alleged that the Government had transferred the amount to BESCOM, while the KSIC officials had made a foreign trip, spending ₹ 1.5 crore, on the pretext of upgrading the machinery.

Commission

But, the Government had transferred about half of the factory’s land for constructing a stadium, he said, while alleging that a Congress supporter had bagged the ₹ 12 crore contract and the Government was pushing for the project for the sake of the commission.

He also alleged that the Government was conspiring to eventually close down the KSIC filature factory, which supplies raw silk to the weaving units in Channapatna and Mysuru for manufacture of Mysuru Silk sarees, to benefit another Congress leader, who runs a large reeling unit. If the KSIC-run filature factory closes, the unit run by the Congress leader will benefit, he claimed.

The closure of the KSIC-run filature factory will sound the death knell for its weaving units in Channapatna and Mysuru, which together employ about 2,000 workers.

Mr. Ashok, who also visited KSIC’s silk weaving factory in Channapatna, and addressed a press conference in Mysuru, said there is absolutely no need to construct a stadium on this piece of land that also has two large boilers. The land has hundreds of full grown trees that help contain the high temperature and foul smell emitted by the industry. “If the stadium is built, 430 trees will have to be cut,” he said. 

He wondered how any sporting activity could be conducted in a stadium situated next to the boilers and an industry that emits foul smell. “If any mishap occurs, who will take the responsibility?”, he questioned.