Central textile commissioner’s visit to Nagari on September 8 sparks hope for power loom sector

Updated - September 07, 2026 06:57 pm IST - CHITTOOR

Central Textile Commissioner Vrunda Manohar Desai and Andhra Pradesh Handlooms and Textiles Commissioner G. Rekha Rani will visit Nagari on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), according to officials. The visit is expected to highlight the long-standing problems faced by power loom workers.

The officials will visit the Integrated Textile and Apparel Centre (ITDAC), power loom production and dyeing units, before interacting with unit holders, stakeholders, and industry associations at Ekambarakuppam locality on Tuesday afternoon. The officials will also participate in a workshop, with a focus on the newly introduced Textiles Statistical Returns System (TSRS), its benefits, the State’s free-power scheme and forthcoming schemes of the Centre and State government.

For Nagari’s 50,000-strong weaving community, the interaction is likely to be more than a routine official exercise. Weavers and unit owners said that they would highlight their issues, particularly the rising cost of yarn, pressure on production margins, competition from large textile centres and the need for better market access.

“We are also facing serious concerns over ageing machinery, maintenance costs, availability of skilled labour and the need for technological upgradation to remain competitive. Powerloom operators are particularly keen on sustained and predictable power support, as electricity costs directly affect production viability,” said a weaver at Satrawada locality.

The State government’s recently implemented 500-unit free-power benefit for around 3,400 power loom units in the district is likely to figure prominently in the discussions, with stakeholders expected to seek effective and transparent implementation.

Nagari’s textile ecosystem is seeking policy support to translate into lower production costs, stronger markets, and more stable livelihoods for thousands dependent on weaving and allied activities, officials said.

Published - September 07, 2026 06:54 pm IST

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