Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer S T Anjan Kumar opined that the silk, gold and sandalwood had put Karnataka on the world map a few decades ago.

But the production of all these products is dwindling in the state.

Though silk is still being produced, the quality was not up to the mark, he regretted.

Speaking after inaugurating display-cum-sale of silk sarees, organised by KSIC Mysore  at Seetharamanjaneya temple premises in Hassan on Monday, he said the lands that were being used for sericulture are now being cornered by land sharks.

Now, the mulberry cultivation has become sparse and can be seen grown rarely. The Sericulture needs promotion.

 But the thing of satisfactory is that the KSIC has been striving to provide quality silk products to consumers.

The units that were manufacturing low-cost silks have mushroomed in the neighbouring states. So, it was attracting people thereby affecting the silk units here. People should not get lured by those artificial silk and buy only the pure silk being manufactured by the KSIC.

KSIC General Manager V H Rattihalli, Hasanamba Vikasana Kendra President Madura M S and others were present.