Mysuru Silk sarees for Rs 4,500 for Varamahalakshmi

Sericulture and Tourism Minister Sa Ra Mahesh said that Mysuru Silk sarees would be sold for Rs 4,500 at Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) shops, starting the day of Varamahalakshmi festival. However only one saree would be sold to each customer.

Speaking to reporters, in an interaction organised by the Mysuru District Journalists Association, here, on Friday, he said, people fancy Mysuru Silk sarees, manufactured by the century-old KSIC, hence the scheme.

He said buyers would be made aware of the patented brand to safeguard its reputation.

“Mysuru Silk sarees are available only in KSIC outlets. No other brand is available KSIC outlets and Mysuru Silk in not available in any other shop.

To increase the reach of Mysuru Silk sarees and its other products among connoisseurs, the number of outlets would be increased.

Besides opening KSIC outlets in hotels and restaurants of the Tourism department, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and Jungle Lodges and Resorts, plans are afoot to open shops abroad --where there is demand. Promotion of online sales is also encouraged,” he said.

Mahesh said, to preserve the reputation of the preferred KSIC brand, a squad would be formed to conduct raids on business establishments that cheat the people, especially tourists, by selling fake sarees as ‘Mysuru Silk’.

“Initially notices will be issued to outlets that are selling other sarees as Mysuru Silk. Action will also be taken against the shops, which have boards saying that ‘Mysuru Silk sarees are available’,” he said.

Regulation of homestays

The minister said, unauthorised homestays are not only exploiting tourists, but are also causing irreparable harm to the environment.

“Homestays are a menace in Madikeri, Kushalnagar and Sakleshpur and surroundings. In Kodagu district, 350 homestays are registered. But, over 1,000 such establishments are operating illegally in Kodagu alone.

The first step of the government would be to ask them to register. Unregistered establishments will be closed.

Once they are registered, they would be mandated to follow the guidelines as most of them are situated in the eco-sensitive zones of the Western Ghats.

Taking measures to protect the environment in these places is necessary as the River Cauvery that provides drinking water to most of the districts in southern Karnataka, originates here,” he said.