Frequent power cuts hitting bat industry
Anantnag: The frequent power cuts have been posing great loses to the bat industry in Sangam belt of Bijbehara sub division in south Kashmir. The owners of various bat factories have alleged that the workers have to sit idle for hours as pesky power cuts are not allowing them to work.
Notably, the bat Industry is operating from Halmulla-Sethar area in Anantnag district and most of the people living in the area are involved in bat manufacturing.
However, the factory owners say that due to low voltage besides unscheduled power cuts during working hours, they face difficulties and are staring at huge loses.
The factory owners said that government has already declared the belt as an industrial area for bat manufacturing, but on ground they are not getting any benefits of being an industrial zone.
“Irregular power supply and low voltage is affecting our business because the way we can conduct our work and machines with electricity, we can’t do it using diesel gensets,” Arif Ahmad, a factory owner said.
“Only the big units can work in the absence of electricity, while many small unit holders are on the verge of turning bankrupt,” he added.
He said that thousands of Kashmiri youth are associated with this industry, who are getting employment from it, but due to lack of electricity, many youths are closing down units.
“This is creating unemployment as the workers are also facing job cuts besides the revenues are also taking a hit,” Arif added.
The industrialists requested the authorities to look into the issue and make arrangements for scheduled power supply in the area at an earliest.
On contacting Executive Engineer PDD sub division Bijbehara, Bashir Ahmed, he said that a DPR has been prepared by the department for BAT industries.
“We are hopeful that the government will soon approve the same and make funds available which will help alleviate the problems of the bat factory owners,” Ahmad added.
Jahangeer Ganaie
