From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Sep 3: At a time when use of plastic bags is sought to be discouraged, Karnataka’s Minister of State for Textile, Ports and Inland Transport Baburao Chinchansur has taken upon himself a campaign to popularize the use of handloom bags in the State.

In a bid to give a boost to the campaign against the use of plastic bags, Chinchansur has announced that the Department of Textiles will launch handloom bags in five different sizes on September 6.

The minister said marketing of the bags would be done by Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation (KHDC).

Talking to reporters in Bangalore on Tuesday, he said KHDC will market the bags to prevent people from using plastic bags.

He said the Union Government has earmarked Rs 11,900 crore for giving impetus to powerlooms and promotion of manufacturing of indigenous machinery in the 12th plan.

The subsidy on import of shutterless second quality powerloom had been reduced from 5 per cent to 2 per cent.

The subsidy capital for purchase of new shutterless looms has been increased from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.

In addition, the minister said the margin subsidy limit has been hiked from Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.5 crore.

Chinchansur said the government was considering conversion of loans of Rs 16,592.69 lakh of 9 handloom mills into share capital in order to make them viable.

The modernisation of the 9 handloom mills would be taken up under National Cooperation Development Corporation (NCDC) scheme.

The minister said the Education Department owed Rs 24 crore to Karnataka Handloom Development Corporation and Karnataka State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation for supplying uniforms to students under 'Vidyavikas' scheme.