-SATISH HANDA

Panipat famous for manufacturing blankets in the country since past many decades passed through a tough period due to increased cost of production because of costly power supply, rising input, labour cost and above all tough competition from China not only in domestic markets flooded with blankets imported from China but also tough price war in export markets. According to Virender Rawal of blanket manufacturing association, there are more than 450 units manufacturing blankets at Panipat unable to compete blanket manufactured in China due to lesser prices offered by them, as such domestic markets are seen flooded with blankets imported from China in spite of the fact blankets manufactured at Panipat are much superior in quality as compared to blankets manufactured in China. Panipat blanket manufacturers told that in past they used to get bulk orders from wholesalers from other states including Bihar, West Bengal, Orissa, Gujarat and Uttarakhand  but for the past few years they have witnessed heavy recession and not many buyers are visiting Panipat for purchases since manufacturers from China has flooded these markets with cheaper products.

Suresh Gupta of All India Shoddy Yarn Mills Association said that more than 330 shoddy yarn spinning mills in Panipat are facing worst ever crisis due to arrival of Chinese yarn in the market at a very competitive rates. He further added that it is high time the government should take steps to assist local blanket manufacturers and increase duty drawback for textile industry to wipe out Chinese blankets not only in domestic markets but also in  export markets. Ram Niwas Gupta from export association Panipat expressed deep concern over 50 percent reduction in exports in past few years since demand of mink blankets manufactured in China adversely affected the sale of indigenously manufactured blankets in domestic as well as in export markets. Ramesh Verma of export marketing association at Panipat, too, blamed government for not constituting infrastructural plans for such a large textile industry in the state. He said, if the government would have given proper support to Panipat textile industry it would have crossed the annual export worth Rs 15000 crore.

Information reveals that mink blankets were first manufactured at Spain, followed by Korea and China was third to produce it in the world. Blankets manufactured at Panipat followed the technique to manufacture mink blankets, which are also presently available at Spain. The president of Roller Spinning Mills Association Preetam Sachdeva said that sometime ago Panipat manufacturers used to import 100 percent mink blankets from China, whereas today 95% blankets manufacturers at Panipat are producing these blankets locally. He said, recently decision has been taken to have complete ban over import of blankets from China as well as export of indigenously manufactured mink blankets to other countries all over in the world.

According to information, there are few manufacturers of mink blankets in Punjab at Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Amritsar. However, efforts to manufacture mink blankets in Hyderabad in Andhra Pradesh could not be succeeded. Preetam Sachdeva told that there are nearly 45 units getting 1500 ton yarn everyday to manufacture mink blankets at Panipat  having annual turnover worth Rs 6000 crore and nearly 25 another units to manufacture mink blankets are being set up during present year when the annual turnover is likely to reach Rs 10000 crore. Sachdeva said, blanket exporters at Panipat are getting handsome orders for mink blankets from domestic as well as foreign buyers especially from South America likely to give severe set back to blanket industry in China this year on the basis of quality although prices offered by blanket manufacturers in China are lesser as compared to prices offered by Panipat manufacturers.

When talked to Punjab Pradesh Vyapar Mandal president Pyare Lal Seth. He disclosed that carpet industry in the state is doing annual business worth Rs 2300 crore, which include Rs 1500 crore at Jalandhar, Rs 500 crore at Ludhiana and Rs 300 crore at Amriesar. General Secretary of Ludhiana Ludhiana Fabric Association told that Ludhiana blanket manufacturers are manufacturing mink and polar blankets and are prepared to meet any challenge from manufacturers in China.