Haryana: 6 Lakh Workers Planning to Leave the Textile City
Representational Image. Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
After Panipat's textile industrial units were forced to shut down for two days over compliance issues on pollution set by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), around 6 lakh labourers are considering migrating to their native places. This is due to the fear that they would lose their livelihood if the mills were closed any longer.
A large number of units in the textile city are facing closure after the revised pollution norms by CAQM came into force on October 1. These new norms include provisions requiring industries to shift to green fuel. Around 500 units relying on coal boilers are unable to meet the new norms.
Suman Jha, general secretary, Purvanchal Kalyan Samiti, told The Tribune that labourers could not afford to lose their wages, even for a few days, as they mostly work on a daily-wage basis.
"Ahead of festivals, this is the peak season. All dyeing units are lying shut for the last two days. If the problem lingers on, the labourers will start moving to their native places. We are in touch with union leaders to avert the migration," he added.
The industry bosses fear the situation will worsen if there is an exodus of workers from the city.
Bheem Rana, president, Panipat Dyers' Association, said that they plan to initiate an agitation against the new norms set by CAQM "on the lines of farmers' movement against the now-repealed farm laws."
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