Amarnath land agitations cost billions of rupees to industries in Jammu

While there is sense of satisfaction and jubilation today in Jammu after the members of Shri Amarnathji Yatra Sangarsh Samiti and State government representatives over the Amarnath land dispute, the local industry has paid a heavy cost running into billions of rupees.

Jammu, Sep.1 : While there is sense of satisfaction and jubilation today in Jammu after the members of Shri Amarnathji Yatra Sangarsh Samiti and State government representatives over the Amarnath land dispute, the local industry has paid a heavy cost running into billions of rupees.

Over two months of shutdowns and curfews following protests by people of Jammu over revocation of transfer orders of the forestland to Amarnath Shrine Board by the State government has cost an estimated five billion rupees to the local industries here.

" Our labours have gone back to their hometowns, as our industries closed. It's been two months and we have been without any work, even local labours could not come for work because of the Bandh (shutdowns). We have faced heavy loss causing our condition going from bad to worse," said Suriendra Gupta, one industrialist.

In Kathua, about 10,000 labourers from other States returned to their native place following violence and agitations.

"We are left with no labour. All of them have gone back to native places and as our industries are new so we need to call technicians from outstation also but due to this prolonged agitation and Bandh, no one is ready to come here," said Y.K Kapoor, another industrialist.

The industrialist area in Jammu and Kathua district has about a thousand large and small scale industry units that enable several people to earn their livelihood. But the prolonged agitation affected all of them.

"My brothers have gone back home, but I am still here waiting for better times to come again, industries are closed and we are without any work, rates of grocery and every thing has increased it's very difficult for us to survive here, said Kamlesh Yadav, one labour. By Pradeep Kr.Sharma

ANI