Surat Industrialists in Limbo Over Gujarat Textile Policy 2024 Eligibility

Surat, Gujarat –– A deep wave of concern grips the industrial fraternity of Sachin G.I.D.C. as uncertainty looms over their eligibility for benefits under the new Gujarat Textile Policy-2024. With 2,250 industrial plot holders invested heavily in machinery and expansion, the lack of official clarification has left them worried and anxious.

The crux of the issue lies in Rule 3.17 of the Gujarat Textile Policy-2024, which explicitly states that industries falling within the limits of the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) are not eligible for policy benefits. However, Sachin G.I.D.C., which was notified as a separate area authority in 1998, lies outside the jurisdiction of the SMC. Industrialists in Sachin pay taxes not to the SMC, but to the Sachin Notified Area Authority—further strengthening their claim for inclusion.

“Despite being outside SMC limits, we’re being left in confusion. We pay integrated taxes to the Sachin authority, not SMC. Why should our industries suffer due to vague definitions?” questioned Mayur Golwala, secretary of Sachin Industrial Cooperative society.

In the seven months since the policy’s announcement, the Gujarat government has yet to issue clear written guidelines on whether Sachin GIDC is eligible. This bureaucratic silence has caused anxiety among textile entrepreneurs who have already invested thousands of crores into new machinery and technology, relying on expected subsidies.

“There are discrepancies in the policy that need immediate correction. Multiple representations have been made, yet the government remains silent,” said a spokesperson from a leading industrial association in Surat. “We need written assurance so that our members can make informed decisions about future investments.”

The lack of clarity is more than just a policy loophole—it’s a potential economic disruption. If industrialists don’t receive promised incentives, the repercussions could include stalled projects, financial losses, and reduced confidence in government policies.

In the larger interest of Gujarat’s booming textile sector, the government is being urged to immediately clarify the eligibility of Sachin GIDC under the Gujarat Textile Policy 2024. Without it, one of the state’s most vital industrial clusters could face serious setbacks.