Lassipora Unit Holders Rue Official ‘Apathy’
Will Do Everything To Solve Their Grievances: MD SIDCO
SRINAGAR: The unit holders at J&K’s largest Industrial complex at Lassipora in Pulwama district are fuming over government’s alleged ignorance in delaying the availability of basic facilities at the Industrial area, despite the unit operators petitioning the administration towards it.
The unit holders have alleged that the Small Industries Development Corporation’s (SIDCO’s) Industrial area at Lassipora is functioning without any basic health care facilities available at the estate.
Pertinently, SIDCO Industrial Complex Lassipora is an industrial hub that has provided both space and opportunity to the local small scale entrepreneurs to establish themselves and promises even more for the future in Kashmir.
“Despite the administration allotting land for an ESIC dispensary at our industrial complex, nothing has been done so far,” says Haji Mohammad Muzaffer Ahanger, President Industrial Association Lassipora.
“Across India, state governments have already established a road map to set up dispensaries in each and every industrial estate but we’re yet to see that light. This dispensary can support workers of more than 500 industrial units at Lassipora”.
Ahanger also said that the normal functioning of industries at Lassipora has taken a massive hit due to frequent and unscheduled power cuts. “All these units are helping in boosting Kashmir's economy. It is bizarre that power outages are happening in one of the biggest industrial estates in J&K. Despite complaints, the power department is unmoved,” says Ahanger, adding that the unit holders are suffering as the unscheduled power cut has hampered the output.
He further said that two major power lines are passing through some industrial units creating apprehensions of an unwanted event. “Two supply lines are passing through some units. These lines can prove to be catastrophic for the workers. Its department’s sheer negligence in failing to streamline them through main roads,” Ahanger alleged.
Besides this, Ahanger noted, the pitiable condition of internal roads at our Industrial estate has robbed the sheen of daily work. “About 70 percent of internal roads have been macadamised. However, the rest has been left incomplete by R&B. The people coming to lassipora are forced to travel on the roads resembling dust bowls,” the President Industrial Association Lassipora said.
“All these issues are to be taken very seriously by the Government as lassipora industrial estate is a lifeline of kashmir’s economy and any damage to units at lassipora means damage to kashmir’s economy,” he said.
“We want to request the concerned authorities to look into the matter and make immediate arrangements so that unit holders won’t face losses again this year,” he added.
Talking to Kashmir Observer, MD SIDCO Kashmir Mehmood Shah said that the issue will be solved on priority basis.
“We’re here to help these unit operators and we’ll do everything to solve their grievances,” Mehmood shah said.