A woman checks out at a shawl at a handloom fair. File picture

Oct. 14: Dispur wants a handloom haveli in Guwahati. Delhi is asking why?

The Centre has asked Dispur whether the economic viability of the proposed handloom haveli project at Machkhowa has been worked out before it can be retained for consideration.

A source in Dispur said a meeting of the non-lapsable central pool of resources held recently in its report mentioned that the state government should clarify if the economic viability of this project had been worked out, and if so by whom before it was recommended for retention.

The haveli project, planned with an estimated cost of Rs 1,296.51 lakh, is to be funded with money from the central pool. It will showcase handloom and handicraft items from all states of the country.

The Centre, in fact, has raised two other questions on the proposed project — one, whether there is at all a demand for such a large quantity of handloom and handicraft items in a place like Guwahati for such an infrastructure and two, whether all the states and Union Territories have committed to provide staff, artisans and other infrastructure on a regular basis for the handloom haveli.

“This is a big blow to the project which was already having a difficult time in coming on board. The state government will now have to give a detailed reply to the Centre. Only after getting the reply, the Centre will make up its mind whether to go ahead or not,” the source said.

The queries posed by the Centre are valid, as authorities will have to be sure as whether such a huge project can be successful, as one will have to liase with a number of agencies, the source added.

“Getting assurances from the agencies and people from throughout the country to put up stalls in the city is itself a major proposition,” he said.

The project was being touted as a major attraction to showcase handloom and handicraft items from all over the country in the city. The haveli would have also given a big boost to the image of the city.

The city holds a number of handloom and handicrafts fairs but there is no permanent place where such products from all over the country can be displayed.

“There is a great market in the city as people here would like to see and buy products from all over the country,” a handloom and textiles department official said.