Gujjar row over, hosiery exporters lose out

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Chandigarh, Jun 24 : Though Gujjar’s stir has been resolved amicably, but the price has been paid by the exporters of Punjab, who incurred huge losses, as large numbers of freight containers got stranded at Ludhiana, the business capital of Punjab.

Business activity in hosiery hub of Ludhiana and Panipat has been badly hit. Industries like hosiery, cycle parts, engineering goods and manufacturers supplying other goods , are unable to carry on with their business.

“We are badly hit and already 20-25% decline in sale has recorded,” said RD Sharma, a Cycle exporter.Some Ludhiana industrialists have revealed that goods worth more than Rs 1000 crores were still waiting for their movement from factories. Similarly goods worth about Rs 500 crores worth were lying at the container depot for movement to Mumbai port. Regional chairman of Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), SC Relhan said that due to Gujjar agitation, there was no movement of goods from Ludhiana dry port , since may 24. Though some movement has started, after issues were resolved, but substantial damage had already been done and credibility of exporters is bruised. and they had to pay heavy penalties, for not being able to meet export commitments on time.

In some cases goods had to be sent by air, which was a very costly affair. Exporters say that duing the agitation, no goods were sent through CONCOR, the Railways’ goods booking agency, which meant goods meant for export that were sent to Mumbai were not being sent at all.