Bhiwandi's powerloom units faces crisis, seeks relief in Union Budget

Bhiwandi, once renowned globally as a hub of textile production, is witnessing the decline of its iconic powerloom industry. Powerloom owners attribute this downfall to a challenging business climate and stringent government regulations, as they appeal for relief measures ahead of the Union Budget on February 1.

The industry, which once thrived with lakhs of powerlooms, is now facing the grim reality of many looms being sold as scrap. Owners blame a combination of factors, including the introduction of technologically advanced auto-looms, the Goods and Services Tax (GST), and the economic repercussions of demonetisation, for pushing the sector into a downward spiral.

The sector’s representatives are calling on the Government to introduce supportive measures in the upcoming budget to prevent the collapse of this once-flourishing industry. Among their demands are subsidies for modernizing looms, relaxation of GST norms, and financial incentives to revitalize the struggling sector.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present the budget, and the powerloom industry hopes it will provide the much-needed relief to revive their fortunes and sustain Bhiwandi’s legacy as a textile powerhouse.