KSIC planning to double capacity at its filature factory in T. Narsipura

Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) will soon begin the process for expanding the capacity of its filature factory in T. Narsipura by increasing its present output of raw silk from 250 kg per day to 500 kg per day.

The raw silk produced by the factory is used for manufacturing silk saris, dhotis and other silk garments by the silk weaving factories of KSIC in Mysuru and Channapatna.

After Minister for Animal Husbandry and Sericulture K. Venkatesh made an announcement in the Legislative Assembly on Monday (March 9) that the government will drop its proposal to construct a stadium in the filature factory premises, a KSIC official said the process of transferring the land back to KSIC has to be taken up.

After the government approved a proposal to construct a stadium on a portion of the KSIC’s filature factory premises, a little over five acres of land had been transferred to the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports (DYES) for the purpose. “Now, the land has to be transferred back to KSIC,” an official said.

The factory is presently producing 250 kg of raw silk every day from the two Automatic Reeling Machines (ARMs) and the Semi Automatic Reeling Machine (SARM).

“We will shortly install one more ARM and take up civil works for installation of another ARM. Once these works are completed, the factory will be able to double its production of raw silk,” the official added.

The 190 employees of the filature factory who had struck work for the last few days resumed work on March 6 after the officials convinced them that the government will drop the stadium project.

Meanwhile, the government’s decision to withdraw its plan to construct a stadium at the factory premises has been welcomed by environmentalists and other groups, who had organised protests against such a move.

Parisarakkagi Naavu’s Parashurame Gowda referred to Mr. Venkatesh’s statement in the Legislative Assembly that officials had provided incorrect information about the site’s suitability for the stadium and said their organisation had maintained from the very beginning that the site for the stadium was a “hasty and irrational” decision.

“Our organisation’s relentless struggle to protect the more than 500 trees located on the five acres of land that had been transferred to DYES for the stadium project, as well as the biodiversity of various species of animals, birds and insects, the sericulture factory, and the livelihoods of hundreds of workers, has succeeded largely due to the strong support extended by the BJP, farmers’ organisations, Dalit organisations, pro-Kannada organisations and members of the media”, he said.

Mr. Gowda also expressed surprise that KSIC had not taken adequate steps so far to meet the growing demand for Mysore silk sarees and urged the KSIC to expand the factory and install modern machinery for the purpose.