Big loss to rice mills, plywood industry

Kochi: As the flood waters have receded, business establishments and entrepreneurs are taking stock of the losses caused by the natural calamity. The small and medium industries, especially the plywood industry and rice mills, are the worst-hit with the former suffering Rs.250-crore loss at Allapra and Perumbavoor alone. The rice mill sector lost Rs.110 crore.

There are 70 rice mills in Kalady of which 40 were inundated and many of them can't be revived, according to mill owners.

According to Sawmill Owners and Plywood Manufacturers Association, floods have caused losses of Rs.250 crore to the plywood sector, including the direct and indirect impacts.

"More than 400 plywood units in and around Perumbavoor were hit, with raw materials, machinery and electric equipment getting damaged. Many buildings and sheds came down," said M.M. Nizar, plywood unit owner in Allapra.

Huge quantities of rice and paddy were damaged when the rice mills in Kalady, Okkal and Kottayam areas were inundated for four days.

"Among the 70 rice mills in Kalady, 40 were submerged. Similar is the situation in rice mills in Kottayam. Over 80 per cent of the rice mill owners suffered huge losses with the destruction of machinery and stock," said Varkey Peter, Kerala Rice Mill Owners Association general secretary.

"A few mills lost 600 tonnes of rice stocked for the Onam festival season. Machinery worth Rs.70 lakh were fully damaged and they cannot be repaired.

Some mills have to change the entire plant to restart operation.  The association has urged the government to announce six months' moratorium for the rice mill industry," he added.

More than 300 small and medium industrial units in Eloor - Edayar stretch were also severely affected. The natural calamity has given a big blow to industries as several units were submerged. The buildings and machinery are covered with a thick layer of slush and it will take over two weeks to restore the normal functioning of units.