Industrialists term curbs too restrictive

ANGAMALY: Units functioning in the industrial area in Chambannoor, where a factory - Chemtech Chemicals - was engulfed in a devastating fire under mysterious circumstances a week ago, are finding it difficult to operate due to “unnecessary” restrictions by government and non-governmental agencies.The Angamaly Industrial Estate Association (AIEA) president Varkey Peter said that there were around 100 industrial units in the area providing employment to more than 1,500 workers, directly or indirectly. But most of these units are on the verge of closure.Scarcity of skilled employees poses serious threat to many industries where the employers are forced to employ unskilled migrant labourers.“Reports of discharge of chemical wastes into nearby areas, too, are baseless,” Peter said. Complaints raised by some residents on pollution were settled amicably without any delay, he claimed.Moreover, the industries need incentives from the government. The small-scale units (SSI) functioning in the area are forced to compete with capitalist large-scale industries.  Even the best quality products manufactured here are not accepted in the global market due to want of International Standard Certification. They are forced to sell their products to bigger companies, said AIEA general secretary P K Mustafa.The concessions provided to SSI units earlier are not available now, said treasurer Mathew K Thachil. The banks which arrange advances to large-scale industries at the rate of 8-9 percent give loan to SSI at 12-15 percent. Power supply disruptions is another hitch in its functioning. The KSEB cannot supply any additional load to the industrial area due to overload.  “The long-pending demand for a sub-station exclusively for the Angamaly Industry Estate has fallen on deaf ears,” Thachil added.Some anti-social elements continued to attack employees in the industrial units, trespass into the industrial units and steal the products and raw materials. The AIEA officials assured that it would ensure that all industrial units in the estate obtain the required licences promptly and renew it from time-to-time.The officials urged the government and other agencies to arrange awareness classes on security and safety to workers and local people.Meanwhile, Chemtech Chemicals owner John told Express that he had the licence to store 40,000l of explosives. “The allegation that raw materials were stored at the factory without proper licence is baseless,” John said. However, he could not explain how his factory caught fire.He added that many departmental agencies and organisations were harassing him without any reasons in the wake of the fire. He suspected that some miscreants had set ablaze the factory.