Mysuru, 8 March

Member of the erstwhile royal family, Pramoda Devi Wadiyar, met with Mysuru district in charge Minister HC Mahadevappa and urged him to stop the construction of a stadium in the KSIC land in Mysuru’s T Narasipura. She said that the stadium would affect the quality of silk production.

The Karnataka government has proposed building a sports stadium on five acres of land in the factory premises of Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) in T Narasipura, triggering outrage from various sections of society.

Although Mahadevappa had earlier said that the silk production would not be affected, farmers launched an indefinite protest, which has been going on for more than a fortnight.

The royal family matriarch said: “The climatic and geographical conditions of the T Narasipura region, along with the trees cultivated for this purpose and the availability of adequate flowing water, create a highly suitable environment essential for sericulture (silk cultivation). Any variation in these conditions can affect the quality of the silk.”

Wadiyar noted that Mysore Silk, established by Maharaja Nalvadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar of Mysore, is renowned for its traditional Mysore design sarees and panche (dhoti). The fact that Mysore Silk has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag certifies its uniqueness and the high quality of the silk produced.

“It is widely known that Mysore Silk stands as a testimony to India’s rich textile heritage. With its elegance, craftsmanship, uniqueness, and deep historical and cultural significance, Mysore Silk has been passed down as a cherished legacy from one generation to another,” she stated.

She added that Mysore silk has remained at the forefront of fashion, despite global trends shifting elsewhere.

Wadiyar stated that the Minister has responded positively to the sentiments expressed by all concerned and has given an assurance that the KSIC factory at T Narasipura will not be shut down.