Mysuru:  A new manufacturing unit will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs.25 crore to meet the growing demand for silk sarees, said Sericulture and Tourism Minister S.R. Mahesh.

He was addressing a press conference after visiting the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) unit (silk-weaving unit) on Manandavadi Road, at the Centenary auditorium of KSIC here yesterday and said that there is a huge demand for Mysuru silks both in the country and abroad.

One of the reasons for the demand is the quality of production at the KSIC unit in Mysuru and every year nearly 80,000 to 85,000 sarees are being produced here. “Since the demand is increasing, it has been decided to set up a new manufacturing unit in the existing KSIC premises to produce 30,000 to 35,000 sarees. The work on the new unit will begin shortly,” he said.

The KSIC unit has the capacity to set up 159 power looms and in just one shift it can produce 35,000 metre silk cloth. Different varieties like Crepe and Georgette sarees with gold border, dhotis, shalyas, scarves, shirts and ties will all be manufactured here. The demand for the KSIC’s production is increasing every year, said Mahesh.

Smooth silk-weaving unit: The Jute Silk weaving unit in Channapatna, which was closed, is being revived to produce silks for middle and poor class people. Already 30 power looms have been set up. The cost for this is Rs.8.77 crore and the government has already sanctioned Rs.5.37 crore, he said.

KSIC outlets: 18 KSIC outlets have been set up to sell the silk products. Out of this, six showrooms are in Mysuru, 8 in Bengaluru, one each in Channapatna, Chennai, Davangere and  Hyderabad. There are plans to set up one showroom each in Delhi and Mumbai. In order to facilitate the international customers, a website has also been created, he said.

Vigilance squad: Reacting to a question on sale of spurious ‘KSIC Brand Mysuru Silk Sarees’ in many showrooms in hotels and shopping areas, he said that Vigilance Squads will be set up to raid shops selling such sarees and see that the KSIC brand is not misused.

The KSIC showrooms will be renovated and made more attractive. It is only due to the effort of the staff that the KSIC is earning revenue and all encouragement will be provided to increase the income, said Mahesh.

KSIC Managing Director Neela Manjunath, General Managers D. Krishnappa and L.H. Bheemappa, former Mayor R. Lingappa, leaders Rajanna, Ramu and others were present.

KSIC silk-weaving unit, Suttur Srikshetra on tourist map

The silk-weaving unit on Manandavadi Road, which also houses the KSIC Silk Showroom and Suttur Srikshetra in Nanjangud taluk will be added to the tourist map of the district so that tourists can visit both the places. This will help the people visiting city to directly purchase from the KSIC unit and get information on silk production. The tourists visiting Suttur Kshetra will get an idea about its contribution to the field of education and health and about its mass-feeding. Efforts are also on to attract tourists to Chunchanakatte in K.R. Nagar taluk this time for spectacular waterfalls.

—S.R. Mahesh, Tourism Minister