Karnataka’s silk sector faces an existential threat, alleges BJP stalwart R. Ashok, blasting the government for land-grabbing KSIC’s T. Narasipura expansion site for a stadium. The Leader of Opposition warns this shortsighted grab imperils the world-famous Mysore Silk, a beacon of craftsmanship.
Central to the row is a technical report from KSIC’s MD, advocating the five-acre parcel for essential enhancements like ETP and production scaling, grounded in operational realities. Flouting these recommendations, authorities advance the stadium blueprint.
In pointed critique, Ashok decried the assault on a demand-driven PSU: Who’s profiting from this erosion? Daily, the unit processes 500,000 liters for reeling; stadium works threaten pipeline integrity, risking cascading failures.
Vulnerable are the workforce—hundreds strong—and sericulture communities numbering thousands. Industrial regs enforce 30% green belts; violations court shutdowns. Positioning Mysore Silk as a GI-heritage gem from princely eras, prized globally for genuineness, Ashok urged modernization over marginalization.
Withdraw the scheme, he pressed the government, simultaneously apprising PMO, Giriraj Singh, and Piyush Goyal of the crisis to ensure the brand’s enduring prosperity.