Bargarh: In a major threat to world-renowned Sambalpuri sarees, a Rajasthan-based company was accused of printing duplicate Sambalpuri sarees and selling it in the open market at a premium.
The matter came to the fore after customers brought the matter to the notice of assistant director, textile Upendra Prasad Debata who lodged a complaint against the Rajasthan-based company with Bargarh town police. Police registered a case and launched a probe.
According to sources, over 30 weavers including Sambalpuri Bastralaya are authorised by the Geographical Indication of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act to use the designs of Sambalpuri Bandha saree. They have the authority to print new saree designs and release it to the market for sales.
However, a Rajasthan-based Bharat Mohan Saree Industries in Pali, Marwar has been illegally printing fake designs of Bandha sarees and releasing it in the market. The company illegally ships the duplicate sarees to Orissa and cheat customers by selling it at low rates as compared to the original prints.
The fake sarees are available for Rs 300-400 per piece while the original designs start from Rs 7,000. Many fall prey to the fraud and get cheated. The fake sarees have also impacted the sales of original Sambalpuri sarees with many businessmen facing severe losses.
On the other hand, the fake sarees have taken the market by storm, severely affecting businessmen who sell original Sambalpuri sarees. Original saree weavers have complained of heavy losses due to the fraud. “If this continues, the original sarees will soon lose their market which will affect the world famous saree designs,” a businessman said.
The fake sarees look attractive but fade away after a couple of washes, locals said, adding many customers fall for this because of their cheap prices. While the illegal business has been running for months, no steps were taken to bring an end to it, locals complained. They demanded an abrupt end to illegal businesses and action against the company.
On learning the incident, a team from the handloom department reached Bargarh and began a probe. “Investigation is on and stringent action will be taken as per law,” Bargarh town IIC Raj Kishore Mishra said. PNN
