Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 23: As the unrest continued in Kashmir, the Small Scale Industrialists are finding hard to survive and the burden of mounting interest has put the newly established units on a virtual death bed thereby further denting the sluggish economy of Kashmir.
The deserted premises of Small Scale Industries in Lassipora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama district nearly surmise the economic fallout of the unrest where in over 150 Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) are locked for last three months, thus facing the wrath of ongoing unrest which was triggered by the killing of militant commander Burhan Muzaffar Wani.
To promote sustainable economic growth and to generate employment, the State Government had in 1992 dedicated a sprawling Lassipora to State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDCO) where space was leased to various manufacturing units but the ongoing uncertainty has hit the area badly.
The members of Industrial Unit Holders Association at Industrial Growth Centre (IGC) Lassipora said that with a turnover of nearly three crores each, almost 170 registered SMEs are defunct for last three months. Apart from these, there are more than 100 under construction units whose construction work has also been stalled due to the ongoing unrest
Speaking to Excelsior, president of Industrial Unit Holders Association, IGC Lassipora, Bashir Ahmad Sheikh said the whole industrial estate is shut for last three months which has put a number of manufacturing units at the verge of closure.
“No one visits this area these days. Every industrial unit is shut. We haven’t even done 30% of business. Prior to unrest, I received a manufacturing order of 8 lack cubical cardboard boxes this year but was able to complete only 1.40 lakh which has dented my business badly. We were yet to recover the losses which we suffered during the devastating floods of 2014 and now this turmoil has really put the whole estate on the death bed,” he said.
When asked whether they are mulling to seek any compensation from the Government, he said: “I don’t think we are in a position to negotiate, as the ongoing unrest shows no signs of ebbing. And what would Government do? They can only make promises. After 2014 floods Government surveyed and estimated loses which we suffered but until now we haven’t received anything.”
He said last week District Industrial Centre sent a team to assess losses suffered but they only found the locked doors and empty premises as whole neighbourhood was under curfew. Some unit holders also believe that since majority of the workforce were outsiders who fled Valley after situation deteriorates, they were unable to run their business units.
Adil Ahmad, who manufactures surgical cotton rolls, said since major chunk of his exports are from States like Maharashtra and Rajasthan, he has to shut his business. “People who make these cotton rolls have left for their homes and this has forced me to close the unit. I have taken a loan of Rs one crore to start my business but the continued closure has mounted huge interest on me,” he said.
Joint Director, Industries and Commerce, Mohammad Ashraf Wani when contacted said: “We have asked them to give estimated production losses but they have not been able to furnish the details so far. We are really desperate and eager to help them but without a detailed report we won’t be able to do anything.”
Asked whether they have any plans to compensate the affected unit holders, he said: “It’s up to the Government to decide whether to compensate them or not. Our job will be to produce a detailed report and present it to the Government for further action. We did the same thing after 2014 floods but the affected unit holders’ haven’t received anything yet. Let us hope for the best this time,” he said.
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