9 lakh Bhiwandi powerlooms on strike from today

The Bhiwandi Power <g data-gr-id="25">loom</g> Association will also send one lakh postcards to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to draw his attention towards the crises in the sector.

They are protesting against <g data-gr-id="34">hike</g> in power tariff, obstruction in their work by yarn producers and are asking for permission to export their cloth. Bhiwandi Powerloom Association spokesperson Sharadram Sejpal said that around nine lakh <g data-gr-id="42">powerlooms</g> will go on strike from today.

He alleged that hike in power tariff has always been ignored by the government and that yarn producers are exploiting <g data-gr-id="31"><g data-gr-id="41">powerloom</g></g> owners. "Yarn traders have a strong association and they use their might to change the price of yarn <g data-gr-id="39">everyday</g>. It affects the production cost of our cloth," Sejpal said.

"There is a slight margin of profit in cloth production since China has captured the Indian market, and in such a <g data-gr-id="37">situation</g> a difference of Rs 10 affects us a lot," he added.Sejpal demanded that there should be a ban on <g data-gr-id="36">import</g> of Chinese clothes as they are cheaper than Indian clothes.

"Production cost of cloth depends upon labour charges, power charges and yarn prices. Ultimately, <g data-gr-id="26">rate</g> of cloth production in India is costlier than that of China,” Sejpal said.

"We will send one lakh postcards to the PM and will demand that the government impose heavy import duty on Chinese clothes to protect the domestic sector,” Sejpal added.

In 2012, <g data-gr-id="33">same</g> thing was done with Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi, against Local Body Tax, he added. A few <g data-gr-id="29">powerloom</g> owners have decided to keep their <g data-gr-id="30">looms</g> open as they have already lost Rs 150 crore per day since last Monday.