Surat Left Out of Key Textile Machinery Safety Meet, Industry Cries Foul

Surat, Gujarat –– In a move that has shocked India’s textile capital, Surat — the largest hub for man-made fabric (MMF) in the country — was conspicuously excluded from a high-level meeting organized by the Ministry of Heavy Industries on April 29 in New Delhi. The meeting was convened to streamline the implementation of the newly proposed Machinery and Electrical Equipment Safety (Omnibus Technical Regulation) Order, 2024.

Despite being home to over ₹8,000 crore worth of new textile machinery installations annually — a lion’s share of the nation’s ₹20,000 crore textile machinery market — Surat’s leading industry organizations such as FIASWI, FOGWA, and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) were not invited to the meeting.

Sources confirmed that the meeting saw participation from national-level associations such as FICCI, CII, BIS, TMMA, and several sector-specific machinery bodies. The gathering aimed to form a Technical Committee to oversee the rollout and enforcement of the OTR 2024, which will directly impact machinery and equipment safety standards across sectors, including textiles.

Ashish Gujarati, former SGCCI president and current head of Pandesara Weaving Society, voiced strong disapproval:“It is outrageous that Surat — the largest consumer of textile machinery in the country — was left out of such a significant policy discussion. This is a blatant oversight and an insult to the entire Surat textile ecosystem.”

Gujarati added that earlier government assurances indicated that end-user input would be a cornerstone of all technical and safety regulation processes. However, the exclusion of Surat from the discussion contradicts that commitment and risks formulating policies detached from ground realities.

Textile stakeholders in Surat now fear that the absence of local representation may result in impractical or commercially harmful regulatory frameworks. The SGCCI and other associations are reportedly preparing to formally protest this omission with the central government.

Industry veterans say this isn’t the first time Surat has had to play catch-up with Delhi after being left out of policy dialogues, despite its critical role in India’s textile value chain. “We contribute massively to the national textile economy, yet we have to knock on doors post-facto to make our voices heard. This cycle must stop,” said a senior member of FOGWA.

“While the Technical Committee begins its work on finalizing the implementation framework for the OTR 2024 Order, Surat’s absence has triggered a fresh debate on the Centre’s consultative processes. The textile powerhouse is demanding an urgent seat at the table — not just to protect its interests, but to ensure that national policies reflect the realities of India’s most active and advanced textile cluster” said Ashok Jirawala, president of FOGWA.