Acting on directives from Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan, the Puducherry Government has partnered with the South India Textile Research Association (SITRA) to assess the feasibility of reviving textile industry in the Union Territory (UT).
Following a formal request from the administration SITRA representatives carried out an inspection of the defunct Swadeshee-Bharathee Textile Mills and Anglo-French Textiles. This initiative aims to explore the possibility of reopening the mills, albeit in a ‘non-composite format, according to Sharat Chauhan, Chief Secretary. The Lt Governor’s visit to the mills in September underscored the push to utilise the prime land associated with the mills for employment and revenue generation.
In 2012, SITRA submitted a report deeming the then-existing format of the mills unviable, leading to a gradual scaling down of operations. This culminated in their complete shutdown in 2020, sparking a conflict between the Lt Governor at the time, Kiran Bedi, and the Congress government led by V Narayanasamy. The Congress leadership accused Bedi of ordering the closure unilaterally, without consulting the elected government. Since then, public and political pressure to revive the mills has persisted.
Lt Governor Kailashnathan has emphasised reconsidering the textile revival plan before repurposing the land for other ventures. He noted, historically integral to Puducherry's economy, composite textile mills are now rare. He urged the government to evaluate the viability of a non-composite textile unit—focused on specific stages of textile processing—which could create significant employment opportunities.
