Employees at KSIC filature unit at T Narsipur stop production

Owing to fear of closure of Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) mother unit at T Narsipur of Mysuru district, and losing the heritage of Mysore silk sarees, as many as 192 employees of the unit have stopped the production of raw silk reeling from Saturday. They have taken an indefinite protest urging to stop taking over their five acre land for the proposed sports stadium.

"This unit processes 1,500 to 2,000 kg of cocoons to 250 to 300 kg silk yarn per day for weaving 2200 meters Mysore silk per day (400 sarees) in Mysuru and Channapatna. But the production of sarees has not been affected yet, as we have the buffer stock of silk yarn for a month. But if the protest continues indefinitely, then the production of sarees will be affected," said KSIC MD Zehera Naseem.

Members of KSIC silk filature employees association (R) of TNarsipur said, "We have submitted memorandums to all concerned, right from local MP, MLA to Chief Minister and are protesting now after department of youth empowerment and sports (DYES) started putting boundary stones to take over land for stadium. The unit will be closed as the stadium cannot exist next to 5tph (tonne per hour) and 2tph boilers or dump yard of cinder ash generated by burning coal; there won't be a way to transport 5 tonne per day coal from Andhra Pradesh. The pipeline from the river passes through this buffer of 5 acre land. So invariably when there is no raw material, Mysore silk sarees cannot be weaved in Channapatna and Mysuru. So the employees of the other two units will also lose jobs. We produce luxury product, but we do not have luxurious lives. We are fighting for the basic livelihood of families which depend on us."

KSIC MD Zehera Naseem, who visited the unit and employees told DH, "Besides expansion plans to meet growing demand for Mysore silk sarees, we have plans to build an Effluent treatment plant in this land. So we have informed about ground level situation to secretary of the Sericulture department R Girish regarding the requirement of land to save and expand the unit ."

Tahsildar of T Narsipura taluk T G Sureshachar said, "as per the instructions from the Chief Minister's office, we have transferred the land to DYES."

Mysuru district in-charge minister and T Narsipur MLA H C Mahadevappa said, "After holding a high level meeting with all concerned ministers and officials, CM has taken decision to use this land for stadium."

Chief Minister's office sources said that they will bring the issue to the notice of CM.

T Narsipur taluk in-charge KAS officer M K Savitha said, "The officials have not found alternate government land for the stadium. So if KSIC land is not allowed to be used and since getting private land is challenging, we may have to return a Rs 6 Crore worth stadium project to the State Government."