More than 350 textile entrepreneurs from Coimbatore and Tirupur districts observed a fast at Karanampettai in Coimbatore district on Friday, pressing for government intervention to regulate waste cotton prices and rationalise electricity-related charges.
The protest was organised by the Recycle Textile Federation, which has called for measures to control the price of waste cotton — the principal raw material used by open-end spinning mills. The federation also demanded exemption from network charges for rooftop solar installations and a reduction in various levies imposed by the Electricity Department on textile units.
Coimbatore and Tirupur form one of India’s most significant textile and garment clusters. While Coimbatore is widely regarded as the country’s spinning hub, Tirupur is a leading knitwear and garment export centre, supplying major global markets. Together, the districts play a pivotal role in India’s yarn production, value-added textiles and apparel exports. M. Jayapal, President of the Recycle Textile Federation, stated that the industry was not opposing increases in electricity tariffs per se but was seeking a reduction in additional charges that had risen by more than 60% since 2022. He further noted that the sector had received no substantive response from the government over the past four years and that electricity-related charges were revised upwards each July despite repeated appeals for relief.
Owners of open-end spinning mills and weaving units participated in the protest, underscoring mounting cost pressures within the recycled textile and spinning segments. Industry stakeholders argue that volatility in waste cotton prices, combined with escalating power costs, is eroding margins and affecting the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in the region.
The federation has urged the State government to initiate corrective measures to safeguard the viability of the sector, which supports a substantial workforce and contributes significantly to India’s textile value chain.
