INDIA: Textile processors in lurch as gas supplies run short
The supply of natural gas which was hampering operations of the textile industry in neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh has now come to haunt the textile processors in the textile city of Surat, Gujarat.
The fabric processors are not getting enough supply of gas to operate their units at 100 percent capacity since the last few days, which is compelling them to cut back production activities, that too, when the industry is going through a stressful period.
To protest against the shortage of natural gas, about 1,500 textile processors and owners of units from other small scale sectors, in and around Surat are planning to hold a demonstration in front of the office of the natural gas supplier.
Fibre2fashion, in order to get to the root of the matter, spoke to Mr Ramesh Gajjar, Immediate Past President of South Gujarat Textile Processors Association (SGTPA). He said, “Due to change in policy of Petroleum Ministry in December 2007, Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL) was appointed as the sole operating agency for sale of gas in India”.
He added by saying that, “Gas produced by ONGC in Bombay High Field is distributed through GAIL and further distributed through respective gas suppliers. But since a few weeks, availability of gas has reduced considerably and most affected units are from textile industries, whose operations have been hampered to a great extent”.
He continued by saying, “There are total 400 units out of which 300 are gas based units. Total loss incurred by the industry till date is Rs 4000 million and now gas will be available only 3 days a week”. Processors allege that this shortage has come at a time when they are receiving good orders due to the ongoing marriage season.
Added: February 23, 2009 Source: Agencies