The district administration of Tamil Nadu to support the livelihood of the handloom weaver has urged power loom owners to abstain from producing notified items in the reserved list or face action.

Collector V. Dakshinamoorthy said that the Central Government had enforced the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 and reserved 11 textile articles that must only be produced in handlooms.

The products includes sari, dhoti, towel, gamcha and angvastram, lungi, bedsheet, bedcover, jamakkalam durry, dress material, barrack blankets, kambal or kamblies, shawl, muffler, pankhi, wollen tweed, chaddar and mekhala.

For effectively implementing and monitoring, a Handloom Enforcement Wing has been formed in each district and the office is also functioning in Tiruchengode.

The collector said that in case of any clarifications, one can contact the office of the Assistant Enforcement Officer, Handloom Enforcement Wing, No. 34, First Street, Thondikaradu, Tiruchengode.

Power loom owners under the act shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term up to six months or fine up to Rs. 5,000 if found producing any the listed items in their units