Punjab: Ludhiana bicycle industry hit by long power cuts; industrialists warn of shifting units
Ludhiana: The bicycle industry in Punjab’s Ludhiana is facing difficulties due to prolonged power cuts, with industrialists claiming that frequent and lengthy interruptions in the electricity supply are affecting production and forcing them to rely on generators.
Industrialist Avtar Singh Bhoghal, associated with the bicycle industry, said that the sector has been facing electricity-related problems for the past several days. He said the long power cuts were disrupting the normal functioning of industrial units and making it difficult for them to carry out their work smoothly.
Speaking to IANS, Bhoghal said manufacturers were being forced to switch to generators whenever the electricity supply was disrupted. Although generator power allows units to continue working, he said it significantly increases the cost of production.
He said the impact of the power cuts was also being felt by workers and labourers. According to Bhoghal, when electricity is unavailable, industrial units have to depend on generators to complete their work, while the disruption also affects the regular functioning of the labour force.
“Even today, our labour is being affected because the electricity is off. We are getting the work completed through generators, but the cost of production is much higher,” Bhoghal said.
He said the situation had become a matter of concern for the industry, particularly because manufacturers were already having to bear the additional expenses associated with running generators. The prolonged outages, he said, were making industrial operations more expensive.
Bhoghal warned that if the power situation continued in the same manner, industrialists could be compelled to consider shifting their businesses to other states. He said manufacturers cannot continue to depend on generators for extended periods because of the additional cost involved.
“If the situation remains like this, we will be forced to prepare for shifting our industry to another state,” he said.
The concerns raised by the bicycle industry come amid complaints of electricity shortages in different parts of Punjab. For Ludhiana’s industrial sector, reliable power supply is important to maintain regular production and control operating costs.
Bhoghal said the authorities need to address the electricity-related problems faced by industrial units so that production is not repeatedly disrupted. He cautioned that if the present situation persists, the rising cost of running industries could leave manufacturers with little option but to explore moving their units outside Punjab.