Truckers’ strike brings Saurashtra industry to a halt

Fifty per cent of 105 rooftile factories in Morbi are on the verge of shutting down,as lignite,which is the main fuel for the industry,is not available. “Lignite is procured from the Gujarat Minerals Development Corporation from its various sites. Nearly 50 per cent of the factories are about to run out of stock. Others are likely to run for a couple of days more,” said Natubhai Patel,a factory owner.

The scene has been no different for the ceramic tile industry where handling finished goods has become a major problem. According to Girish Pathapara,president of Morbi Ceramic Tiles Association,goods worth nearly Rs 5 crores are lying at factories,waiting to be transported.

With nearly 400 units,Morbi ceramic industry accounts for 80 per cent of ceramic production in India. Similar is the situation for clock manufactures of the city. Big players like Ajanta and Samay have kept their fingers crossed after finished goods have piled up.

The truckers’ strike may spoil the plan of the machine tools industry in Rajkot,to attend the international machine tools exhibition to be held in Bangalore on Janunary 21.

The exhibition is a chance for them to showcase their products to the world and hence add to their overseas clients. Half a dozen companies from Rajkot have booked stalls,but they do not have any means of transport to carry heavy machinery to Bangalore for the exhibition.

The Machine Tools Association of Rajkot,in a press release,said that participation in such an exhibition is important to interact personally with new clients and win their confidence for the future deal.