GUWAAHTI, March 23 � Assam Governor JB Patnaik today formally inaugurated the mechanized weaving unit of muga silk fabric at IIT-Guwahati.
In his address, the Governor said that although India was the second largest producer of silk with Assam accounting for 90 per cent of it, there was a shortfall of 10,000 tons of silk, leading to spending of valuable foreign exchange in importing silk.
The demand, he said, can be met from increased productivity and expansion of the field of production.
The Governor lauded Dulal Choudhury for developing the technology for mechanized production of muga silk, and termed it as a �path-breaking achievement�, saying that it would now be able to fulfil the tremendous demand for muga products � something difficult to meet through the traditionally-woven handlooms.
Describing muga as a unique fabric that can be worn comfortably both in summer and winter, Patnaik said that it was an intrinsic part of Assamese culture.
�Muga has the highest tensile power among all natural fabrics, and can hold its own colour, sheen, toughness and other attributes up to temperatures of 200 degree centigrade. It can regain its moisture capacity up to 30 per cent, and can absorb up to 85 per cent of ultra-violet rays,� he said.
