Appliances, electronics industry seek nod from local authorities to restart production

Home appliances and consumer electronics manufacturers on Thursday said they are gearing up to resume production and are in talks with local authorities for permission to operate factories which are located within or near city municipal limits.

While welcoming the government's guidelines for the extended lockdown giving nod to resume production from April 20, industry body Consumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) said there are still ambiguities which need to be cleared.

Individually, each brand is seeking more clarity and approval on the guidelines The guidelines say that we would have to open in a phased manner. All brands are gearing up to open up, wherever, it will be permitted," CEAMA President Kamal Nandi said.

He, however, added, "Many places (factories) are falling under red zone and several places under municipal limits, wherever, we have clarity and approvals, we would open up."
He also highlighted the availability of the workforce to operate the manufacturing units and said: "even if we open at this stage, we would have to use only around 20 to 25 per cent of the manufacturing capacity.'