Hosiery units in Ludhiana demand regularisation

The owners of almost 1,000 hosiery units located in Ludhiana's residential areas have demanded regularisation of the units. After a decade-long wait, these units, operating at the micro level, said they might have to close down if action was not taken in the direction soon.

The issue has once again been taken up by the industry representatives who say that these units not only comprise 10-15 per cent of this industry but are also doing job work for more than 25 per cent of small and medium enterprises.

"A frequent noise about evicting the units located in residential areas panics those depending for their living on them. It has been 10 years that we have been raising the issue. Regularising these hosiery units is a must,"said Vinod K Thapar, president, Knitwear Club.

As per estimates around 1,000 hosiery units are located in residential areas like Bajwa Nagar, Sunder Nagar and New Shivpuri. While a lot of units from various other industries like dyeing etc are also located in residential areas and have been demanding a re-location or regularising, hosiery industry representatives contend that the units they are talking of fall under green category.

"Around two years ago an announcement to regularise units falling under green category was made. Most of the units got permissions for electricity connections at that time. However, in other aspects the situation is still the same," said Thapar.

Small-scale entrepreneurs fear constant threats of closure could result in actual closing down of this industry which would hamper functioning of textile industry in the city that relies heavily for its job work on these enterprises.

"If they are not allowed to grow they would ultimately close down, which is not good."

"These are non polluting units and have been located in these areas for a very long period. Earlier we had sought relocation. But the fact is that 70 percent of these areas comprise of small and medium units and only 30 per cent are residences. The best way out is to regularise them."

Regularising would mean that operations are smoothened. These units that are under constant threat of getting closed or facing some adverse action would be able to carry on their functioning smoothly. They can think of expanding and would operate better, feel industrialists.

Industry is now seeking instant reddressal of this long pending issue as previous governments only kept "dilly dallying" with it. "Time and again there were assurances that the matter would be considered but nothing was done in the direction. Now that this government promised a solution to this problem prior to elections we want that an action should be taken at the earliest," added Thapar.

Industrialists even brought the matter to the notice of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on his recent visit to the city