Harshraj Singh
Tribune News Service
Ludhiana, May 9
Kulwant Singh owns Forging Machinery Manufacturing Company with NKH hammers trademark, a renowned firm that deals in manufacturing of machine tools. He is also the president of Ludhiana Machine Tool Manufacturers' Association. He said the industrial sector has faced massive losses due to the lockdown. He has shared his concern over mass exodus of labourers.
Now when we are trying to reopen the industries, labourers have started going back to their homes. If the labourers keep on leaving the city like this, the industrial sector will collapse. — Kulwant Singh, owner, Forging Machinery Manufacturing Company
What is the impact of lockdown on industry?
The industrial sector has gone behind five years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The machine tool industries, which fall under the small or medium enterprises, are lying closed for over a month. Now, when we were going to open the industries, labourers have started moving back to their homes. If the labourers keep on leaving the city like this, the industrial sector will collapse. Moreover, 60 per cent of the machine tool industries are located on mixed land use areas but the government has not yet given any permission to reopen them. There is a need to ensure proper functioning of the supply chain and reopening of all units. Moreover, we have not received GST installments.
How are you tackling the issues related to industry?
We have released the salaries of the labourers for the month of March and April. We have also distributed ration among them. But, now the government has allowed the labourers to go back to their home states. We may face more losses if it goes on like this. It would be better if the government should have provided adequate arrangements to support the labourers and build their confidence to stay back here.
What are your plans to restart the industry?
We have planned to restart our industry operations soon. Hammers manufactured at our unit costs between Rs 30 lakh to Rs 3 crore. Besides, other important tools are manufactured at our unit. We will follow all guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus. We are providing masks, gloves, face shields and other protective gears to the staff so that the factory operations can be started at the earliest. We will conduct thermal scanning of the employees.
What do you expect from the govt?
We request the government to waive of electricity bills and interest on loans for three months or till lockdown remains into effect. We have also written to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister to release a relief package for the industry for five years. The government should take all possible efforts for the revival of the industry otherwise the industry will be forced to move to the other states where electricity rates are cheaper. If the government does not take required steps to revive the industry, Ludhiana would be no longer known as “Manchester of India”.
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