The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Power cuts hit powerloom sector

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Monday, Dec 03, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Power cuts hit powerloom sector

Staff Reporter

Production of grey cloth is affected

TIRUPUR: Frequent power cuts have affected the production of gray cloth in thousands of powerloom units in Somanur, Mangalam, Avanashi and Palladam areas near here and caused dent in wages of more than a lakh powerloom workers in this region.

“The textile industry is already facing a host of problems and the frequent power cuts have aggravated our woes. Besides production loss, the erratic supply has caused cut in wages of weavers,” G. Rathinasababathy, secretary, Cloth Manufacturers Association of Somanur, told The Hindu.

Unlike knitwear units, powerloom units cannot be operated on generators as these looms primarily produce the raw material - gray cloth. Since they are operated on low margins and getting power at concession tariff, the weavers cannot afford to go in for generators.

Powerloom owners said that they were facing power cuts for nearly 5 hours a day, which hugely affected the gray cloth production. As wages had been given on the basis of production, workers were ending up losing their wages these days. “Normally, a weaver gets Rs. 125 to Rs. 150 as wage for a 12- hour shift. Due to frequent power cuts they are losing up to Rs. 30 a shift,” Mr. Rathinasababpathy said.

A powerloom produces up to 80 metres of gray cloth a day but due to the power cuts, the sector faces a production loss of around 25 per cent.

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