Double whammy for industrialists in Jalandhar

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 2

Industrialists have expressed anger against the decision of the state government to shut down their establishments for 48 hours due to power outages.

They said earlier the units were allowed to operate on July 3, but now the order has been extended till July 4.

“It has happened for the first time in the history of the state that a message was delivered to a few industrialists regarding the power cut. On July 1 we came to know that large scale industries cannot operate from 8 am onwards,” said Balram Kapur of JMP Industries.

He said the message reached industrialists by 9 am and by then opeartions had already commenced, but they had to close their units.

Irate traders said adequate arrangements were not made in advance by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL) to meet demand during the peak season.

Another industrialist, Ravinder Dhir, said it was a sudden and shocking announcement. “The Covid-19 induced lockdown has hit us financially and now when some relaxations were given, this order proved a double whammy. I don’t understand, how industries will survive,” rued Dhir. He said power demand increases every year, but the PSPCL has failed on this front.

Tajinder Bhasin, a businessman, said the government believes that by not allowing large scale units to operate, there would be a lot of impact on small and medium scale units. “If ancillary units stop production, remaining industries will also suffer,” he said.

He said almost a decade ago, such blackout had happened for the entire week. “Large scale units, including induction furnaces produce basic raw materials, which are required by ancillary units, and if these units stop production, from where will other units get material,” he said.

Bhasin also highlighted the consequences of this order. He said as operations have been shut due to power outages, labour, which was about to return, would not come from their native places.

Gursharan Singh, another industrialist, said, “If this continues, industrialists will also be left with no option, but to hit the streets,” he said.