The entire textile industry of Surat almost came to a standstill on Tuesday in protest against the implementation of Cenvat on the mad made textile industry.
Almost all the 120 odd textile markets, over 450 dyeing and processing houses, over six lakh powerlooms, texturising units, show rooms and all other segments downed their shutters for a day in protest against the proposal made by the Union Finance Minister Jashwant Singh to impose Cenvat. The Surat textile weaving industry weaves about 1.50 crore metres of cloth everyday which came to a total standstill on Tuesday.
Even as a team from the Union Textile Ministry and the Union Finance Ministry headed by Mumbai based Textile Commissioner Subodh Kumar rushed down to Surat on Tuesday to hold parleys with different textile associations and bodies to sort out the matter, the Federation of Gujarat Weaving Industries (FOGWA) threatened to launch an indefinite stir if the Government failed in scrapping Cenvat.
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A big rally of textile weavers, processors, traders and others was taken out from the Makkai Pul area of the city from where it went to the Central Excise office to submit a memorandum to the Central Excise Commissioner. From here, the rally went to the District Collectorate where a copy of the memorandum was given to the Resident Collector J.B. Vohra.
Talking to Business Standard, Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCC) Vice-President Ashokbhai Shah described the bandh as a success.