Varanasi's silk industry shaken by China quake

VARANASI: The ripples of the devastating quake in China are beingfelt in the famed Banarsi silk saree industry here as imports fromthe communist country have taken a hit, pushing up silk prices byabout 25 per cent.

The silk industry of Varanasi consumes 12,000-15,000 metric tons ofsilk every year and out of this over 60 per cent of silk isimported from China.

"Due to the quake in China, import has been affected and propersupply of the required silk to Varanasi is not being made leadingto an 25-25 per cent increase in silk prices in the local markethere," Assistant Director, Handloom Department, Varanasi, K P Vermatold PTI.

District Magistrate, Varanasi, Ajay Kumar Upadhyay said silk pricesin the city have gone up to 1500 Rs a kg from Rs 1200 a kg forFilature (raw silk thread), while it has gone up to Rs 1800 per kgfrom the earlier rate of Rs 1500 per kg in the case of Katan silkthread.

He said silk price has swelled to this level in just two weekstime.

SM Sultan, the Vice Chairman, All India Handloom Board alsoaccepted that the prices have gone up by Rs 200 to 300 per kg.

Due to the decline in silk imports, small traders have been badlyhit as they are forced to buy silk thread at exorbitant prices andare finding it extremely hard to earn their livelihood.

"Silk has become very costly. The local weavers are finding itextremely tough to make both ends meet," said Anurag, a silktrader. A lot of them have left Varanasi and gone to other placesto earn their livelihood.