A mega silk cluster will soon be set up on the outskirts of Mysuru in 10 acres of land in Belavadi village, which will involve investment to the tune of an approximate ₹50 crores. Mysuru and its surrounding regions are known for sericulture, and the famed Mysore Silk has been accorded the Geographic Indication tag in view of its uniqueness.

This is one of the six silk clusters to be set up across the country under the revised National Handloom Development Programme.

The Union government has appointed the Karnataka State Textile Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (KSTIDCL) as cluster management and technical agency. Efforts are on to register a Special Purpose Vehicle for the implementation and funding of the silk cluster.

G. Thippesh, chairman, KSTIDCL and G.P. Srinivasmurthy, Managing Director, said that twisting, yarn dying, warping, fabric dying and printing, and calendaring were among many functions that would be provided at the cluster.

Mr. Thippesh said that the cluster would be set up under a public-private partnership. The Union government would bear 60% of the total cost while the State government would bear 30% and remaining 10% would be borne by the entrepreneurs. The cluster would enable the weavers to produce quality silk saris in an abundant quantity.

They said that 25 silk traders had been identified and each one of them has agreed to invest around ₹40 lakhs in the cluster.

A detailed project report for the cluster is being prepared with the assistance of Infrastructure Development Corporation Karnataka Limited (IDECK). Roads, drainage systems, water, power and solid waste management systems, a training hall, a bank and an ATM would be set up. The project may come up in another eight months. It is proposed to name the cluster Mysore Sri Chamundeshwari mega silk cluster.

The proposed silk cluster, being a labour-intensive industry, would open up huge employment opportunities besides fuelling local economy by spanning ancillary industries.