"The Central Silk Board has taken up the matter with Commissioner of Sericulture (Karnataka) to intervene... and take urgent action against the traders using chemically adulterated silk, so as to avoid such serious consequences in future," State Minister for Textiles Panabaaka Lakshmi said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. Silk weavers suffered eye injuries and skin allergies in Magadi, near Banglore, recently.
The minister said an inquiry has been conducted to assess the actual cause of the injury and allergy suffered by a "few" silk weavers. "It is ascertained that the incident happened due to use of chemical toxic substances for preservation of silk, which was procured by the twisters/weaver from local silk traders," she said.
To ascertain the actual toxic material used on the silk, samples have been sent for forensic examination.
