Assam would soon have an integrated textile park at Naharkatia in Dibrugarh district which will boost its handloom and textile sector. The ARTFED park will be set up under a National Scheme for Integrated Textile Parks, launched in 2005. The park would create nearly 2,800 direct and 4,200 indirect employment opportunities.

The textile park would be set up on 268 bighas of land of Chankharu Pather which will involve investment to the tune of Rs 49.17 crore. While the 90 percent cost would be borne by the Union Government, the land has been allotted by the State government.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs Pranati Phukan said that other than generating employment, the integrated set up of the park would create new business avenues and stimulate investment in the textile sector.

They have been given 24 months’ time to complete the project after receiving the first installment. Dedicated infrastructure would be created around the park that includes roadways, high power electric supplies, communication cables and water supply etc.

The entire process of weaving, dying and producing finished product would be completed under one roof. Arrangements would be done for marketing of the finished products from the textile park itself. The infrastructure would include testing laboratory, design centre, trade and display centre, warehousing, packaging units, factory set up, etc.

Initially, the park would have plantation for growing host plants for muga, mulberry and eri silkworms. The State government has the option to expand the project in future.

The minister also announced setting up a silk testing laboratory in Guwahati that would be first of its kind in the entire region and urban haats at Sualkuchi and Sivsagar.

The government of Assam would also be taking measures to stop duplicity of Assam’s textile products, affecting indigenous weavers.