Coimbatore, May 05: South India Textile Manufacturers Association (SITMA) today appealed to the Centre to extend CENVAT exemption to powerloom sector, producing 'ready to wear fabrics’, as provided to the knitting sector. In a memorandum to Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, SITMA chairman M S Mathivanan said powerloom sector also produced ready-to-wear fabrics like sarees, towels and bed-sheets and was entitled to CENVAT exemption as provided to knitting sector. The Rs 20 lakh CENVAT duty exemption given for powerloom weavers would benefit only a few weavers, he claimed. Urging Singh to provide SSI exemption to powerloom sector, as given to all other industries, Mathivanan said in case it was not possible, the finance minister could consider enhancing the CENVAT exemption from Rs 20 lakh to Rs 50 lakh so that more number of weavers could be covered. Bureau Report