Govt sets up committee on technical textiles

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The Government today said it has set up an inter-ministerial committee to look into the environmental regulatory framework mandating the use of technical textiles.

This was stated by Textile Minster Shankersinh Vaghela at the 2nd India Technical Textile Summit held here.

The committee will suggest a framework to promote the safe use of technical textiles, covering the use of geosynthetics in infrastructure projects, fire retardant textiles in public places, textiles in landfill sites, use of nonwoven disposables in hospitals and protective gear for industrial workers, etc.

The committee, to be headed by Textiles Secretary D P Singh, will include members from Ministries of road and transport, defence, home affairs, health and family welfare and environment.

The global market size of technical textiles was estimated to have a volume of 16.71 million tonnes with a value of 92.88 billion dollars in the year 2000, and is expected to increase to 23.77 million tonnes worth 12 billion tonnes by 2010.

''The regualtory framework has played an important role in the use of technical textiles in western countries. In India also, such regulations will benefit the sector, but they are non-existent till now,'' Mr Vaghela told reporters here.

The use of technical textiles for safety purposes are quite common in western nations, he pointed out, adding that India shall also make use of them for increasing public safety.

Technical textiles account for a quarter of all fibres consumed throughout the world and up to 40 per cent of the textile industry in industrialised countries, he added.

Earlier, the government had set up an Expert Committee on Technical Textiles (ECTT) to study the existing status of the technical textile industry, the market potential and draw up a plan for its growth, the minister said.

He said this committee had estimated the market size for the technical textiles at Rs 19,130 crore in 2003-04, which would increase to Rs 29,579 crore by 2007-08, a growth of 12 per cent per annum.

Mr Vaghela also announced the constitution of a committee under the chairmanship of Textile Commissioner Jagadip Narayan Singh to monitor and support the growth of the industry.

The ministry has also covered all the major machinery required for the production of technical textiles under Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS). Even the second-hand non-woven plants and the machinery for converting the nonwoven into finished goods have been places under TUFS, he said.

''The Ministry of Textiles had also allowed five per cent concession on cutoms duty paid on the import of production machinery in addition to providing sanction to 46 product application with a project cost of Rs 956 crore,'' he said.

''Their should be certain regulations to provide safeguard to the end user, but the same are limited in the country. It is, therefore, necessary to bring them into being,'' Mr Vaghela said, adding, ''however, it is up to other ministries to implement them.'' The ECTT had also recommended the use of fire retardent textiles to be made madatory, which the minister said, ''the government is looking into.'' UNI PKS RA HS1548