1,800 Factories Near Delhi-Haryana Border Adversely Affected Due To Farmer Protests

The ongoing farmers’ protest at the Singhu border in Delhi has adversely impacted around 1800 factories situated in the Greater Kundil Industrial Area, India Today reports.

The road blockage caused by the agitating agriculturists has hampered the movement of goods in the region. Several cold storages and industrial units concerned with textile, steel and other export goods have been adversely impacted by the protests.

Ritesh Bajaj owns a business of processing dry fruits and selling them in Delhi’s wholesale market. He is the president of the Kundli Industrial Association and his trade has been severely impacted by the farmers’ protest. “Goods are rotting in the cold storages. We import walnuts, almonds, figs and dry grapes, but they have a shelf life. ,” Bajaj was quoted in the report.

Moreover, factory owners are asking their workers to report to work on alternate days as they are finding it difficult to visit the units due to the agitation. Moreover, the supply of goods to the Azadpur mandi has been influenced by this situation too. There are 300 cold storages in the area and quite a lot of them are at maximum capacity owing to non-movement of products and goods.

“My trucks are stuck in four different places. Since bananas get spoiled easily. I had to sell them off at dirt cheap prices wherever the trucks are stuck,” said Pulkit who engages in trade of bananas.

Satnam Singh, an owner of textile unit, claimed that the viscous cycle of non-delivery of products and non-payment of the workers’ dues will continue if the protests continue. “If such a situation continues, we’ll find it difficult to run the factories. It will impact some 25,000 workers employed in this industrial corridor. If business stops, it will be difficult to pay their salaries. Goods are rotting in godowns,” Singh told India Today.