Budget pushes to upgrade powerlooms; boost for sports textile in Maharashtra

Kolhapur: Plain textile powerlooms are set to become a thing of the past after Centre, in the Budget, announced financial assistance to upgrade them with sophisticated and advanced powerlooms to increase production.There are more than 1 lakh plain powerlooms in Ichalkaranji, and around 3 lakh across Maharashtra. Earlier, govt encouraged textile operators to set up advanced machines — with air jet and rapier being the most commonly used — but the scheme was discontinued. For the first time, encouragement is being given to those already in existence.Chandrakant Patil, the president of the Ichalkaranji Powerloom Association, said, "Advanced machinery is five times more effective, and the quality of the garment is also much smoother and longer-lasting in comparison to plain powerlooms. Centre plans to launch an integrated scheme for the textile sector, and it includes a component to encourage powerloom operators to upgrade. Capital support for machinery and technology upgradation is a crucial part, which the sector has demanded for a long time."The textile sector plays a crucial role in the state's economy, being the second-largest employment enabler in Maharashtra after agriculture. The state accounts for 10.4% of the country's total textile and apparel production and 10.2% of total employment in this sector. Additionally, Maharashtra produces 272 million kg of yarn, which is roughly 12% of India's gross production.Malegaon, one of Maharashtra's largest textile hubs, is home to over 12,000 powerloom units operating more than 3 lakh powerloom machines. The town predominantly produces grey cloth, with a daily output of around 1.5 lakh metres supplied to major textile markets in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and other states. These units, however, mainly consist of plain powerlooms that have seen little technological upgradation over the years.Local industry representatives said the Union Budget has announced some measures for the broader textile sector, but overlooked the needs of the plain powerloom segment, which forms the backbone of Malegaon's textile economy. "The plain powerloom sector needs dedicated schemes and financial support to modernise. Unfortunately, there is nothing substantial for us in this Budget," said Sajid Ansari, the president of the Malegaon Powerloom Udyog Vikas Samiti.According to him, earlier schemes that supported modernisation were discontinued. A programme offering assistance to upgrade plain powerlooms stopped in 2021, while another central scheme that provided a 20% subsidy on project costs for advanced looms was discontinued in 2023. "Central govt must take steps to revive support and enable technological upgradation of plain powerlooms. Without this, small and medium powerloom units will struggle to stay competitive," Ansari added.Among technical textiles, the Budget showed Centre's intention to boost sports textiles, which comprise anything from sports shirts to towels, mats, and many other items. Solapur, being the hub of terry towel manufacturing, may benefit from the boost."Solapur-based units produce world-class towels. They are frequently sought for big sporting events because the towels can soak sweat," said Raju Rathi, the president of the Solapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Chandrakant Patil said that technical textiles are growing slowly in Ichalkaranji. "We currently have around 22 operators who produce technical textiles, from sports to medicine fields and even bulletproof jackets," said Patil.