Yamunanagar : Once famous in the country Yamunanagar plywood industry which started flourishing since after year 1980 when every 20th youth in the area was employed in this industry providing employment to about two lakh persons is presently facing severe crisis and in past some time more than 100 manufacturing units in the town have been forced to down their shutters and many more are facing sickness due to several reasons. According to information, during year 2016 more than two lack persons were employed in this industry and state government had provided licenses to 1705 units in printing, pressing and saw mills assisting Yamunanagar plywood industry.
According to the President of Yamunanagar Plywood Manufactureres Association J.K. Biyani, this industry was worst affected due to Carona epidemic outbreak in past years when most of the units were closed down by the government. Most of the workers employed in this industry hailing from other state left for their home states and the payments of the manufacturers were stuck up inj the market. He told that earlier this industry was working for both morning and night shifts due to demand whereas there is no work even for a single shift since many units have turned sick or working between 40 to 60 percent of their production capacity due to increasing competition since large number of plywood manufacturing units have been set up in other states in the country including Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab and Utter Pradesh. Biyani told that Indiasn markets are now flooded with plywood board being manufactured in Nepal which is much cheaper in prices as compared to plywood manufactured at Yamuananagar.
Satish Chopal President of Plywood Union told that one of the major reason for slump in local plywood industry was less arrival of raw material including ‘Safeda’ and popular wood in local wooden market since earlier more than 75% material was being supplied by the farmers in Uttar Pradesh and Uttaranchal, now have plenty of option to supply the same to plywood manufacturers in other states as such arrival of ‘safeda’ and popular wood to Yamunanagar market have been reduced more than 50% witnessed increase in the prices as such manufacturing cost of production of plywood manufacturers at Yamunanagar has increased. Satish told that some time ago the association had a talk with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khatter when he was at Yamunanagar to provide special incentive to this industry on way to decline and he had assured them assistance but no action was taken as such most of the manufacturing units are turning sick.
