Farmers Movement Archive

Industries almost run out of stock, closure imminent

Tribune News ServiceAmritsar, November 1The city-based manufacturing units were on the brink of closure as stock of raw material has almost dried up due to non-operation of trains in the state.Samir Goyal, who owns a wire drying and screw manufacturing unit, said wire rods used in industries come from Andhra Pradesh’s Vizag. After paying advance, he ordered wire rods worth Rs 80 lakh, but the rakes had been stuck at Ballabgarh for the last 20 days. His 20 workers had been sitting idle for a month and he has paid Rs 2.5 lakh salary to them. Goyal has also paid one lakh bill for 600 kW in this period.Due to closure of industrial units, competitors from the National Capital Region (NCR) have taken a lead in supplying finished goods. He said all these factors were enough for the collapse and decline of industry in the state.Piara Lal Seth, chief, Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM), claimed that raw material worth Rs 2,500 crore was lying at dry ports. He said labourers were out of job and manufacturers were incurring losses in the festive season. He said it was the second string of loss after the lockdown was introduced in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak in March.He urged the Central Government to relinquish its stand of not sending goods trains when farmers had already announced that they were ready to give passage to trains. He said raw material for local industrial units, including textile, yarn, iron and steel, comes from other part of the country. Commodities such as grains, dry fruit and finished material go out of the state, he said.‘Centre must revoke agri laws’ Amritsar: The farmers’ protest at Buttari railway station near Beas against the three agri laws entered 32nd day on Sunday. The farm leaders reiterated that they would not relent unless the Centre revokes the agri laws. The leaders said instead of providing profitable prices to farmers for their produce, the government was trying to demolish a market system, which had developed over decades. They said farmers had been demanding improvements in the existing system, but instead the Centre has brought laws, which were detrimental to the farming community, especially those with marginal land holdings. The protest under the banner of 30 kisan unions were being held at Gehri Mandi railway station, outside the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party’s Rajya Sabha MP Shwait Malik, toll plazas and petrol pumps of Reliance. Participating in the protest, a group of shopkeepers said that with income of the farming community dwindling, they would be the first to suffer loss. They said rural economy has already taken a hit with corporate houses entering their segment. The shopkeepers expressed solidarity with farmers and promised to support their cause. TNS

The Tribune

2020-11-02