New Delhi, July 26 (KNN) The Government of India has relaxed Cabotage rule for movement of cotton from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu, said Minister of State of Textiles, Ajay Tamta in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

For ensuring hassle free movement of cotton bales at competitive prices, Tamta said that the Ministry of Textiles took up the matter and facilitated interaction between textile industry and the shipping industry.

Further, it also organized discussions between the textile industry and the shipping industry on the availability of ships and containers for cotton transportation at competitive rates, informed Tamta.

Towards this, Ministry of Shipping granted relaxation in May 2018, under Merchant Shipping Act to permit the coastal movement of cotton on foreign flag vessels chartered by Indian individuals or the companies carrying EXIM containers and empty containers, Tamta informed the house.

In this regard, he said that the textile industry through South India Mills Association (SIMA), Coimbatore, had represented for the relaxation of Cabotage rules for movement of cotton from Gujarat to Tamil Nadu.