Workers start returning to factories at Pantnagar

Workers on Friday began returning to factories at Pantnagar after authorities lifted curfew in phases to provide relief to the industry reeling under the impact of the violence at the nearby Rudrapur town in Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Curfew was relaxed for two hours in the morning and six hours in the evening at Rudrapur where no untoward incident has taken place during the past two days, said DIG Abhinav Kumar.

But top officials said the worry for the industry may not be over. There are reports that a large number of industrial workers might have left for their homes and may not return immediately, they said. “We understand that a large number of workers unable to cope up with curfew restrictions might have left for their homes. But as the situation is gradually improving, factories can always call them back for work,” said P S Jangpangi, district magistrate Udhamsingh Nagar, who is holding talks with religious leaders to restore normalcy in Rudrapur town.

Contrary to the claims made by Tata Motors and other companies that the production is only partially affected, Jangpangi said a large number of industries at Pantnagar remained closed during the past few days due to curfew at Rudrapur where most of the workers reside.

“Sending workers back to their work is also one of our strategies to restore peace in Rudrapur,” said Jangpangi.

Nevertheless, some of the big industries like Bajaj Auto, Tata Motors, Nestle and others have already told the authorities that nearly 50 per cent of the workers have returned to work.

“Industries have already conveyed their gratitude for giving curfew relaxations that provided opportunities for workers to return to their works at factories,” said Jangpangi.

Since the situation has improved considerably, the district authorities are now planning to lift day time curfew which would further give relief to the industry as well as the people in general.

The production in nearly 200-300 manufacturing units in Pantnagar industrial estate and nearby areas have remained affected following imposition of curfew in Rudrapur town at Kumaon region of Uttarakhand.

Pantnagar is a key industrial estate developed by the State Infrastructure and Industrial Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Limited which houses over 400 manufacturing units.