Lok Sabha Question No. 5645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-26
Subject: Textile Sector in Assam
Ministry: TEXTILES
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque, Gaurav Gogoi

## TEXTILE SECTOR IN ASSAM

## 5645.   SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE: SHRI GAURAV GOGOI:

Will the Minister of TEXTILES वस्त्र मंरी be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there are any investors willing to invest in handloom, textiles and handicraft sector in Assam since 2017, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the number of textile/jute mills in Assam, area-wise;
- (c) whether Government proposes to establish new textile/jute mills in Assam and revive the sick and closed mills as part of public sector undertakings or through PPP model, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  have  taken  any  measures  to  increase  silk  production  in Assam and clarify if sericulture is being placed under RTPS, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) whether there is a regional office of Central Silk Board in Assam, if not, whether the Government would like to establish the same, if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether  there  is  any  proposal  to  grant  special  packages  to  the  Assam  Cooperative Jute Mills Ltd., Silghat, Nagaon (Assam), if so, the details thereof?

## उत्तर

## ANSWER

## वस्त्र मंरी ( श्रीमती स्मृ तत ज़ूबिन इरानी )

## MINISTER OF TEXTILES (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a): The Office of Textile Commissioner has been providing subsidy under the Amended Technology  Upgradation  Fund  Scheme  (A-TUFS)  to  the  investors  (including  the  State  of Assam)  and  is  also  processing  new  proposals  for  availing  subsidy  for  upgradation  of machines  from  the  investors.  In  the  Mega  Handloom  Cluster  at  Sivasagar  in  the  State  of Assam, private investments are encouraged in projects which are sanctioned in the PPP mode in 80:20 ratio, wherein Govt. provides 80% funding and 20% funding is done by the investor, i.e. Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), which also provides the land for the project. Since 2017, Govt.  of  India  has  released  Rs.  6.91  crores  for  such  projects  in  Assam  with  the  investor participation at Rs. 1.91 Crores. The Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) has taken  up  39  clusters  under  Ambedkar  Hastshilp  Vikas  Yojna  (AHVY)  for  the  overall development  of  artisans  in  Assam  which  has  benefitted  4970  artisans  during  the  last  two years.

(b): Following two composite jute mills are enlisted in the State of Assam:

|   S. No. | Name of the Jute Mill              | Address of the Mill                                         |
|----------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------|
|        1 | Assam Co-operative Jute Mills Ltd. | P.O. Silighat-782143, District- Nagaon, Assam               |
|        2 | Atlanta Modular Pvt. Ltd.          | NH-37, Bihand Nezone Tubes, West Boragaon, Guwahati, Assam. |

(c): Under  North  East  Region  Textile  Promotion  Scheme  (NERTPS),  a  proposal  to establish two Eri Spun Silk Mills in Assam and Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) under Government Sector has been approved during 2018-19. The Government has set up a Board for Industrial & Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) under Sick Industrial Companies (Special Provisions)  Act  with  a  view  to  timely  detect  sick  and  potentially  sick  companies  and    for taking remedial measures.

(d): Yes  Sir.  Under  NERTPS  Govt.  of  India,  through  Central  Silk  Board  have  taken measures to increase silk production in Assam by implementing sericulture projects in four categories  viz.,  Integrated  Sericulture  Development  Project  (ISDP)  and  Intensive  Bivoltine Sericulture  Development  Project  (IBSDP),  Eri  Spun  Silk  Mills  (ESSM)  and  Aspirational District  (AD).  The details of funds sactioned and released is given below:

[Rs. in crore]

| Project Name   |   Project Cost |   GoI share | Funds released Till June-19   |
|----------------|----------------|-------------|-------------------------------|
| ISDP           |         186.99 |      153.17 | 113.06                        |
| IBSDP          |          59.61 |       53.03 | 50.37                         |
| ESSP           |          43.06 |       38.18 | -                             |
| AD             |          41.31 |       38.19 | -                             |
| Total          |         330.96 |      282.56 | 163.43                        |

(e): Yes Sir. A Regional office at Guwhati is functioning to monitor the Central Sector schemes  and  to  address  the  issues  related  to  development  of  sericulture  in  NE  region  in assosciation with the all NE States.

(f): As on date, no proposal to grant special packages to the Assam Cooperative Jute Mills Ltd.,  Silghat,  Nagaon  (Assam)  is  under  consideration.  However,  preferential  treatment  is given in allocation of Production cum Supply Orders (PCSOs) as per its capacity under the Jute  Packaging  Materials  (Compulsory  Use  in  Packing  Commodities)  [JPM  Act],  1987 because of its disadvantageous geographical location and limited options for local markets.

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