(a) whether several jute mills are on the verge of closure due to new technology;
(b) if so, the details of other factors responsible for the worsening condition of the textile sector;
(c) whether the Government has chalked out any action plan for undertaking modernisation of textile industry/jute mills; and
(d) if so, the details thereof?
MINISTER OF TEXTILES
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) to (d): No report of likely closure of jute mills due to new technology has been received. However, the Government has been implementing a number of schemes for modernisation of textile/jute industry.
The National Jute Board (NJB) has been implementing Incentive Scheme for Acquisition of Plant and Machinery (ISAPM) since 2013 by providing an incentive @20% of the cost of machineries to Jute mills and 30% to the MSME –JDP units. During 2014-15 to 2018-19, capital subsidy amounting to Rs. 4971.19 lakhs to jute mills and JDP units has been released.
Also, the Component –II of the Scheme for Research and Development for the Textile Industry aimed at jute sector is being implemented by Office of Jute Commissioner since 2015 having a total outlay of Rs. 80.00 crores.
Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (ATUFS) is being implemented to upgrade technology/machinery of the textile industry with an outlay of Rs. 17,822 crores from 2016 to 2022 which is expected to attract investment of Rs. 1.00 lakh crore.
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