Tamil Nadu knitwear manufacturers demand for a separate State Textile Board and also devise a separate textile policy. In a memorandum sent to Chief Minister O. Paneerselvam, the industrialists said that a Textiles Board, and a textile policy would help the government give a focused approach to the development of textile industry.

According to A. Sakthivel, president of Tirupur Exporters Association, the State textile policy should provide 5 percent interest subsidy, and 10 percent capital subsidy towards modernization and expansion of capacity in existing units — similar to the textile policies of Gujarat and Maharastra Governments.

Some of the other demands that should be included in the coming budget were incentives for promotion of technical textiles, and capital subsidy for setting up various types of effluent treatment plants.

To reduce the impact of the power cost in the operation of effluent treatment plants, they wanted 25 per cent power subsidy.

A long pending demand of various textile associations here is establishment of dedicated power station for the Tirupur knitwear cluster.

The memorandum also mentions construction of hostel for workers, and widening of the Tirupur-Oddanchathram road.