Power crisis cripples textile production in north and west India

The disruption of electric supply is adding to the problem faced by the textile industry due to skyrocketed prices of cotton.

Ludhiana-based trader Ashok Singhal told Fibre2Fashion that the spinning mills are badly affected due to the power crisis. “The power intensive spinning mills are forced to halt production, as captive power consumption from DG sets is not viable due to high cost.” He explained that mills are getting power supply at average price of ₹7-8 per unit from local electricity distribution company, while captive power from DG sets cost around four times at ₹25-28 per unit. So, “most of the mills have replaced the large capacity DG sets with smaller ones for light-fan power supply.”

Anil Bansal from Mumbai said that most of the cities of Maharashtra are facing power cuts. According to him, lakhs of powerlooms across the state are forced to halt production due to power shortage. However, powerloom operators are not very much worried due to halt of production because demand from downstream industry is also weak after cotton prices rose to a record high.

Gujarat based textile mills are also facing power shortage, but the extent of power cut is limited compared to other states. The states of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh are also reeling under severe disruption in power supply.

However, furnishing textile hub of Panipat is the most affected by the power crisis. All the production activities including spinning and weaving are adversely affected in the textile hub. Trading activities are also hampered due to slow production, which has not improved even after Eid due to power shortage. According to industry sources, there is a power cut of 10 to 15 hours in Panipat and other adjoining areas of Haryana. A mill owner from Panipat said that the power crisis in Haryana started in mid-April itself, which is still not over. He added that he does not find production profitable if he runs his mill on DG sets.

Panipat-based trader Suresh Durga said, “It became very difficult to meet out the regular demand for furnishing products like curtains, bedsheets. There is a production mismatch as items in high demand are short supplied.” Durga said that there is off-peak season in Panipat for furnishing textiles, but the power crisis has made it difficult to maintain production and supply even at a minimum level.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)