Manufacturers of scientific instruments in Ambala hit by recent floods
One of the country’s oldest centers of scientific instruments in Ambala, Haryana state, has been badly affected by the recent floods, with manufacturers staring at losses running up to crores of rupees.
According to various trades unions, the scientific instrument manufacturing units suffered an estimated loss of more than Rs 300 crore.
Most of these units provide hardware to educational and technical institutes, while some are for export.
The recent heavy rains in the region have flooded vast areas of farmland as well as many residential and commercial areas in the twin cities of Ambala City and Ambala District.
The famous scientific instrument industry in Ambala Cantonment had to face heavy losses as flood waters entered a number of instrument manufacturing units, stopping work and causing machinery and equipment worth nearly crores to stop and damage raw materials.
They said about 100 manufacturing units were submerged under 4 to 5 feet of water for three days. As it rained in the region, water from the Tangri River entered the manufacturing hub.
Satish Saini, one of the scientific equipment manufacturers in Ambala Kant, said the loss incurred by the units in the flood is estimated to be more than Rs 300 crore.
He said that the sudden floods did not give the entrepreneurs any opportunity to shift their machines and equipment that are on the ground floor to safer places.
Many manufacturers said that expensive machinery, ready-to-dispatch shipments, electrical installations, and furniture items kept in manufacturing units were completely damaged.
Many skilled and unskilled workers were also affected as most units had to suspend manufacturing for several days.
Manufacturers said that some of their orders to and on board various states were canceled because they were unable to deliver on time.
Saurabh Nagpal, who is in charge of the Ambala Scientific Equipment Manufacturers Association (ASIMA) office, said most of the manufacturing units had suffered heavy losses.
He said that the flood waters have not yet receded from some areas even after a week.
He said the government should set up a committee to assess the losses and provide compensation.
Nagpal said the government should give a concession in taxes and electricity bills to the affected units.
Businessman Rajat Jain said the floods were devastating for manufacturers as the industry had already been hit during the COVID-19-induced lockdown.
Ambala district was the worst affected by the recent floods. Rain-related accidents claimed 36 lives in Haryana state.
The famous wholesale clothing market in Ambala city is also staring at losses as flood waters have entered a number of fabric showrooms and businesses have come to a standstill.
Vishal Batra, head of the wholesale market, said flood waters had entered most of the shops and losses were estimated at around Rs 100 crore.
There are around 900 wholesale clothing stores and showrooms located in the district which cater to buyers from Haryana, Punjab, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of the country.
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