Farmers Movement Archive

First step towards revival of economy, say Chandigarh traders

Only 10-15 per cent of industries could reopen in the city on the Day 1 of relaxation in lockdown restrictions, aimed at bringing economy back on track.Naveen Manglani, president, Chamber of Chandigarh Industries, said hardly 10 to 15 per cent of the industries reopened today due to the odd-even confusion.UT Adviser Manoj Parida clarified that the Industrial Area was exempted from the odd-even rule. Individual issues such as product demand were also a major reason for not opening of the establishments in full-fledged manner, Manglani said. He added: “Attendance of workers is still okay. As of now, not much of industrial labour has gone back.”Another issue faced by the industrialists was the restriction on movement of workers in the tricity, he said. “The movement back to Panchkula and Mohali from Chandigarh is another big issue.A common plan on movement is a must for the tricity. A large number of people working in Chandigarh are from Panchkula and Mohali,” he said. “As advised by the UT Administration and the Ministry of Home Affairs, we commenced operations today,” said Pankaj Khanna, president, Industries Association of Chandigarh.Partial opening of shops and industrial units amid lockdown was a first step towards revival of the economy from slowdown, he said, adding that they were looking forward to more initiatives from the UT Administration and the Centre in future.“We look forward to hand-holding from both the Centre and the UT Administration to bring economy back on track,” he added.Kamaljit Singh Panchhi, president, Chandigarh Traders Association, Sector 17, and general secretary, Chandigarh Beopar Mandal, said, “We support the decision of the UT Administration to allow opening of shops within sectors.”“On the one hand, the Administration is not allowing the Sector 17 market to open while on the other, there is a plan to shift a part of the Sector 26 mandi to the ISBT–17,” he said.“Sector 17, being an open spacious market, should be allowed to open. It should not be compared with malls, which are indoor,” he added.Ram Avtar, a labourer, said with opening of factories, now he could think of staying back in the UT. He was earlier planning to go back to his native village in Gorakhpur district, Uttar Pradesh.Finance Secretary AK Sinha said he was coordinating with the industry and trade associations regarding the relaxation. “The entry to the Industrial Area has been regulated. All persons entering the Industrial Area will be sanitised and thermally checked before entry,” he added.

The Tribune

2020-05-05

Chandigarh