Ahmedabad: Industrial operations across the Changodar-Sanand-Bavla belt were disrupted again on Monday after roads in several industrial estates and surrounding areas were inundated, prompting industrialists to seek urgent and permanent measures from govt.Tractors were pressed into service to ferry workers from highway into industrial estates as buses and smaller vehicles struggled to navigate the waterlogged roads. Movement of workers, raw materials and finished goods was affected, while several units faced disruption to plant operations and utilities.The situation was particularly severe at Pharmez SEZ, where several export-oriented pharma companies operate. Sources said most units had installed pumps following the July 23 deluge, but were now struggling to find effective ways to drain the water.“Most units have procured pumps to drain out rainwater, which have been running continuously. But the key issue is where to pump it out so that it does not enter back into the factory units. Water levels inside factory units is very high,” a source said.The SEZ had suffered prolonged disruption after July 23 rains, which affected production for days. Several units had reported losses of Rs 5-10 crore each, besides damage to machinery, raw materials and finished goods. Some companies had also seen transportation costs rise nearly five-fold after being forced to use five-tonne trucks for consignments weighing just 300-400kg.Monday’s disruption raised fresh concerns among industrialists as rain was significantly lower than the July 23 spell.“This was barely any rain compared with July 23, yet there is so much waterlogging. Our main concern is what will be govt’s next line of action,” said Sapan Majmudar, an industrialist in Swastik Industrial Estate. He said the nearly two-month dry spell had not resulted in visible remedial work despite forecasts of another rain spell between Sep 12 and 16.Waterlogging was also reported at Gallops Industrial Estate on the Changodar-Bavla stretch and in Kerala GIDC.In Narol, textile units reported similar disruption, with waterlogged approach roads preventing workers from reaching factories and delaying resumption of production.“There was 5 to 6 inches of waterlogging. Workers could not make it to the factories. The approach roads were waterlogged, so production could not resume as planned,” said textile industrialist Naresh Sharma.Traffic congestion around CTM, Vatva and Hatkeshwar further compounded difficulties for workers and employees travelling to industrial areas.The Changodar industrial corridor links a major manufacturing cluster with Ahmedabad and several GIDC estates, with hundreds of workers commuting through the wider belt every day.
