The Hindu Business Line : Gujarat industry badly hit — Total damage put at Rs 10,000 cr

TORRENTIAL rains in the last four days have left behind a trail of destruction in large parts of Gujarat with at least 123 deaths and an estimated damage of Rs 10,000 crore to the State's industry.

The positive news, however, is that water levels have started receding in the worst-affected areas of Vadodara, Kheda and Anand districts. Industrial units, shut down due to the floods, expect to commence operations by Monday.

According to the Gujarat Government, the industry in the State has suffered a production loss in excess of Rs 5,000 crore in the last four days. One national chamber of commerce put the total damage to the State's industry, infrastructure and agriculture at Rs 10,000 crore.

Several manufacturing units, including the Reliance-owned Indian Petrochemicals Corporation Ltd (IPCL), Gujarat Alkalies and Chemicals Ltd (GACL), Apollo Tyres, General Motors and the Indian Oil Corporation Ltd refinery at Vadodara had been partially or fully closed.

A senior official at General Motors said the plant had to be shut on June 29 and normal production was expected to commence only from Monday. An Alembic spokesperson said that while the company's plant continued to function, attendance had been thin due to the rains. Alembic too expects normal attendance by Monday.

The Apollo Tyres plant at Limda near Vadodara had been operating at about two-thirds of its normal production level. One section of the plant had to stop work, although no water entered any part of the unit, said Mr Sunam Sarkar, a director on the board of the company.

Milk arrival at a dozen dairy plants under the Gujarat Co-operative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) had been affected but the Federation claims it has maintained the supply through its strong marketing network.

The GCMMF Chief General Manager, Mr R. S. Sodhi, said milk arrival at various dairy plants from primary cooperative societies was 30 lakh litres per day (lpd) against 60 lakh lpd normally.

The Gujarat Pollution Control Board, as a preventive measure, has ordered chemical manufacturing units at Nandesari, Udhana and Pandesara to be closed to avoid leakage of harmful chemicals, a senior State Government official told Business Line from Ahmedabad. Confirming 123 deaths, the official said relief and rescue work was in full swing.

"We now have 10 battalions of the Army, two of Central Reserve Police force (CRPF), 12 transport helicopters of the Indian Air Force and about 100 boats of Army and Navy engaged in relief and rescue operations. Another four IAF choppers are on their way. The next 24-48 hours are going to be crucial," the official said.

The Ahmedabad-Vadodara National Expressway No 1 continued to be closed to traffic for the fourth day on Saturday and traffic was being diverted through the old highway. Large parts of the Expressway have reported to have been damaged.

The Railways, meanwhile, have managed to restore traffic on the Mumbai-Delhi route through Vadodara after flood waters receded.

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Gujarat industry badly hit — Total damage put at Rs 10,000 cr