Farmers Movement Archive

Punjab: Railways dismisses rumours on start of some goods trains

LUDHIANA: Dismissing the rumours that some goods trains might be resumed to and fro from Punjab, the railways on Thursday clarified that there is no such plan as of now to start operations. The development has increased the fear among businessmen, who have been pleading before farmer organisations and the government to end the ‘rail roko andolan’ and resume train service at the earliest. In the latest development, Ludhiana industrialists have issued a warning to both state and central governments that if the train operations do not start by next week, then about 90% of factories will have to shut down operations completely in Ludhiana alone due to shortage of raw material. Meanwhile, additional divisional railway manager (ADRM), Ferozepur, Sukhwinder Singh said, “Same status quo on running of trains on Friday. We don’t have any orders for running of trains, but we are ready for it as soon as the issue is sorted out.” Giving more information, Gurmeet Singh Kular, president of Federation of Industrial and Commercial Organisations (FICO), said, “Farmers have been protesting against the farm laws and have blocked the rail tracks at several spots, thereby leading to a complete halt of inbound and outbound trains in Punjab. This has led to disruptions in the the supply chain and industry has been hit the most as due to non-operation of goods and container trains, there has been no supply of raw material into Punjab from India and abroad and the same applies for supply of finished products to other parts of the country and world.” Kular added that, “The biggest jolt to our industry has been the severe shortage of raw material, especially steel, in Punjab. The major plants manufacturing secondary form of steel like Aarti Steels, Avon Steels, Hero Steels, Avon Ispat & Power, which are based in Ludhiana, have closed operations as there is no raw material with them due to non-operation of trains. If this situation continues it will result in closure of 90% units in Ludhiana which are dependant on these manufacturers for supplies. It is our request to the government that it should immediately resolve the dispute with the farmers, so that normalcy could be restored.” According to Baldev Singh Amar, leading agriculture and engineering product manufacturer, “Non-movement of trains has affected the imports and exports very badly as there are piles of containers stuck up at ports and total import-export has come to a standstill, causing huge losses to trade and industry. The government should at least arrange the movement of trains, so that the stuck-up goods may reach destinations. There are containers loaded with both raw material and finished goods, which is causing two-way problem as we are neither getting raw material for production, nor we are able to supply our finished products.” According to Rajiv Jain, bicycle parts manufacturer, “After demonetization, GST and lockdown, rail roko is the biggest problem being faced by us. Break in the supply chain for raw material, especially steel, is affecting Ludhiana’s industry very badly. Both Centre and the state governments should remember that if this crisis of ‘rail roko andolan’ is not resolved, not only will factories shut down, but the revenue of governments will take a record hit. Therefore, it’s in best interest of the state and country and economy to end this problem.”

The Times of India

2020-10-31

Ludhiana