Textile minister, Smriti Irani asked the textile commissioner to provide a detailed feedback on the issues raised by Surat weavers associations like yarn price fluctuation, anti-dumping duty on PTA and dumping of undervalued Chinese fabrics and submit a report.

A delegation of powerloom weavers from Surat also raised the issue of reduction of subsidy in Technology Upgradation Fund (TUF) scheme from 30 per cent to 10 per cent at a meeting in New Delhi recently.

“Leaders of powerloom sector from different centres had common issues regarding dumping of Chinese fabric, anti-dumping duty on PTA, yarn price fluctuation etc. Textiles minister heard all of us and directed the textile commissioner to meet the stakeholders again and submit the report within 15 days,” leader of the delegation said.

The powerloom industry in Surat is passing through a rough phase as out of the 625,000 weaving machines in the textile hub, only 30 per cent were working.

“We have requested the minister to conduct an independent inquiry into dumping of undervalued Chinese fabrics in India, which is hurting the domestic powerloom sector,” Dhiru Shah, a delegation member said.

-Apparel Talk, Indian Apparel