Federation of Gujarat Weavers’ Association (FOGWA) has urged the Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Shipping Mansukh Mandaviya to formulate a textile policy, similar to the one made by the Maharashtra Government ,to stop migration of power loom weavers from Surat. Reports suggest around 250 power looms in Surat have migrated to Navapur a border district in Maharashtra due to proactive textile policy of Maharashtra government. The units have been set up in Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) estate in the last one year or so.

The benefits provided by Maharashtra government include cheap electricity tariff at less than Rs 3.5 per unit, 35 per cent subsidy on capital investment on bank loan and 50 per cent subsidy on own investment and cheap land prices. On the other hand, power loom units in Surat have been paying electricity tariff at Rs 7.30 per unit and the total subsidy on capital investment is just about 15 per cent.