Question : Textile Sector in Assam

(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?

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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