Govt cracks down on sellers of fake Kashmiri carpets

The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, Kashmir, on Tuesday said that in response to growing complaints from buyers and tourists about the sale of machine-made carpets from outside the region which are being falsely marketed as authentic Kashmiri handmade carpets, the department has intensified its crackdown on unscrupulous carpet sellers.

A statement said several counterfeit products were confiscated and stern warnings were issued to errant dealers to ensure compliance with quality standards.

In an official statement, a spokesperson from the department said that this action follows recent reports in local dailies highlighting the influx of machine-made Turkish and Iranian carpets being sold under the guise of genuine Kashmiri hand-knotted carpets.

“The enforcement wing of the Quality Control Division conducted a comprehensive inspection of several wholesale carpet dealers in Srinagar and this exercise will continue,” he added.

During the inspection, the team discovered stocks of Turkish and Iranian carpets, some of which were unlabelled or partially labelled.

Such practices mislead consumers about the origin and nature of the products, constituting a violation of fair trade practices, he stated, adding that the dealers found in violation of the Tourist Trade and Quality Control Acts would be issued warnings and advised to ensure all products are properly labelled as per prescribed specifications.

“This includes clearly distinguishing between the machine-made carpets and authentic Kashmir hand-knotted carpets,” the spokesperson said.

The Handicrafts and Handloom Department, while reiterating its commitment to maintaining transparency and safeguarding consumer interest, has further emphasised the department’s commitment to upholding the integrity of Kashmir’s handicrafts sector.

“All stakeholders are urged to strictly adhere to the rules governing the industry. Any deviations or malpractices will be met with stringent action to protect the interests of genuine artisans and preserve the authenticity of Kashmir’s heritage,” the spokesperson said, adding that “regular inspections will continue to ensure compliance and protect the reputation of genuine Kashmiri handmade carpets, which are an integral part of the region’s rich cultural heritage”.