VIJAYAWADA: Jawahar Autonagar, the largest automobile servicing hub and industrial estate in the state, is facing severe problems with power holiday. Labourers say that their wages were reduced by 40 per cent following power interruptions in Industrial Area Local Authority (IALA).
Around 2,000 industries are located in Jawahar Autonagar and JRD Tata Industrial Estates located in Vijayawada. A total of 65,000 labourers are working in various industries here.
As per data provided by IALA around 25 per cent of labourers are working at 96 medium-to-large scale industries located at Autonagar.
Autonagar lost its sheen after Covid-19 lockdown as around 18 per cent of transport operators from the city stalled operations. The increase in diesel price also had a severe impact on the industries dependent on automobile maintenance and service.
Power cuts have once again increased problems for labourers as well as owners of small-scale industries. Clutch repair units, tyre re-bottom, foundry and steel manufacturing units can operate only five days a week as per the directions of the energy department.
“This is really a rough time for us. Our production has come down significantly with power cuts. Power supply is very irregular after 6 pm and we are forced to close our units by that time. Our production has come down by 45 per cent,” said M Nooruddin, a foundry mechanic. Autonagar wore a deserted look on weekly power holiday. Many small-scale industries have cut worker salaries by 25 per cent and trade unions are opposing the move.
“State government is responsible for this grave situation at Jawahar Autonagar. Many laborers are failing to meet their daily expenses after salary cuts. Power cuts have taken IALA back to the 1990s. We will protest along with the workers until the state government supplies quality power,” said A Ranganayakulu, a member of All India Trade Union Council.
