(d) Industrial Area and Estates
The scheme for the established of industrial estate to provide sheds for factories, was started in the State in 1959. To popularise it, sheds constructed in the industrial estates are given to the allottees on hire-purchase basis. The rent paid by them adjusted towards the cost of sheds which is, thus recovered in 15 equated instalments.
The Industries Department, Punjabi, has set up four industrial estates in the district at Batala, Sohal, Ghuman and Fetehgarh Churian, besides an urban industrial estate at Gurdaspur proper. The detailed information in respect of these is given below:
Industrial Estate, Batala.- The industrial estate at Batala, with 50 sheds, was set up during 1963-64. The main industrial activity in these sheds is machine tools, sheds furniture and water pumps and other agricultural implements.
Industrial Estate, Gurdaspur.- Twelve sheds have been provided in the estate wherein conduit pipes, rubber goods and cardboard units are running.
Industrial Estate, Fatehgarh Churian.- Covering an area of 43 kanals and 8 marlas, this estate has 8 sheds.
Rural Industrial Estate, Sohal.- Covering an area of 43 kanals and 8 marlas, this estate has 8 sheds.
Rural Industrial Estate, Ghuman.- The total area of the estate is 33 kanlas and 4 marlas in which there are 8 sheds.
Power.- manual, coal or diesel- is the bloodstream of the economic and industrial development. The presence of waterpower is also an industrial asset. The old-time industrials were cottage, traditional and hereditary, for which no electric power was used, and the work was done with manual and animal power. Even the New Engerton Woolen Mills at Dhariwal, established in 1880, was run with waterpower. Similarly, flourmills were operated with the help of gharats and animals. Later on. Some oil engines were put to se to run flourmills, cotton ginning, rice husking and other such industrial.
In 1889, a thermal plant steam engine was installed by the New Egerton Woolen Mills, Dhariwal.
The pioneer in brining electric energy in the district was also the New Egerton Woollen Mills, Dhariwal, which installed the first thermal power generating unit in 1925. The electric power generated there was, however, exclusively meant for the industrial use of the woolen mills and for its employees.
With the construction of a hydro-electric power station at Jogindernager, 132 KV transmission lines and the two main 132 KV grid sub-stations at Pathankot and Dhariwal, under the Punjab P.W.D. Electricity Branch, the electric energy was made available for the use of the people in general in the district for the first time in 1933. In the preliminary stage, there was not much demand for electricity and, in spite of considerable canvassing, people were not keep to make use of it. The pace of progress was therefore, slow. At the time of the partition of the country in 1947, only 7 towns and 11 villages were electrified in the district. Since then tremendous progress has been made under the various rural electrification projects.
The advent of the hydro-electric power in 1933 gave impetus to the setting up of new industries and development of the existing ones. Slowly and steadily, electricity replaced the sources of power. Gurdaspur being predominantly an agricultural district, breakthrough in agriculture with its corresponding optimism in industry has put new demand for power.
The electrification projects remained under the Punjab P.W.D. Electricity Branch from 1933 up to January 31,1959, when the Punjab State Electricity Board was found and the whole of the administration along with all its assets and liabilities was transferred from the Government to the newly constituted board.
The Gurdaspur District is served by three electrical divisions, viz., Gurdaspur Division, Gurdaspur; Batala Division, Batala; and Pathankot Division; Pathankot. These are under the administrative control of the Superintending Engineer, Punjab State Electricity Board, Gurdaspur.
During 1971-72, the Diesel Power House at Fatehgarh Churian, with installed capacity and firm capacity of 4.6 thousand kilowatts each, as on March 31,1972, came into operation. The number of villages/towns electrified in the district, as on March 31,1972, was 921, forming 14.11 per cent of the total number of villages/towns in the district as on March 31, 1972, was 921, forming 14.11 per cent of the total number of villages/town in the district. The total number of consumers of different categories, during 1971-72, was 94,337, comprising 69,470 domestic, 12,675 commercial, 2,982 industrial, 9,156 agricultural, 17 bulk, and 37 public lighting. The total units sold to different categories of consumers, during 1971-72, was 1,139 lakh K.W.H., comprising 112 lakh K.W.H domestic, 43 lakh K.W.H. commercial, 303 K.W.H. industrial, 589 K.W.H. agriculture, 87 lakh K.W.H. bulk, and 5 lakh K.W.H. public lighting. The per capita consumption worked out to be 92 units (K.W.H.). The length of L.T. and 11 K.V. transmission lines in the district, as on March 31, 1972, was1,867 kilometres which worked out to be 0.89 km. per sq. km. of area. The number of transformers installed in the district, as on March 31, 1972,was 1,590. The total connected load during 1971-72,
was 1,11,497 k.w., comprising 17,782 k.w., domestic 4,956 K.W. commercial 41,430 K.W. industrial. 43,690 K.W. agriculture, 3,432 bulk and 207 public lighting. In 1971-72, the average number of units sold per consumer were 1,207 and the average connected loan per consumer was 1.2 K.W.2
(f) Growth and
Development of industries
Although the Gurdaspur District is predominantly agriculture, nevertheless certain industries did exist in the 19th and they early part of the 20th centuries which gave employment to a large number of persons. The chief of these is the large-scale textile concern known as the British India Company Ltd. New Egerton Woolen Mills Branch, Dhariwal, which was established in 1880.
The industrial received fillip from the demand by the World War I (1914-18), the Swadesi Movement (boycott of foreign goods), a change in Government’s laissez faire policy and the grant of tariff protection since 1923. The agricultural implements industry at Batala came into existence in 1924. Its main items of production at that time were chaff cutters and sugarcane crushers. Later on, it started manufacturing farm machinery, like wheat and maize threshers, disc harrows, seed cum fertilizer drills, etc. In 1933, the Batala Engineering Company Ltd. Was started at Batala. The engineering works developed first as a result of railway construction, but were later on extended to other fields. In course of time it has become the most important industry which, however, revived subsequently. The rubber goods manufacturing industry was started in the district in 1952 when its first factory was established at Dinanagar for manufacturing canvas rubber belting.
There are also cottage and village industries like handloom weaving, leather tanning, shoe-making, ban and rope making, soap making, sericulture, spinning, gur and khandsari making, pottery, etc. Such industries have an important and vital role to play in the economy of an agricultural district like Gurdaspur.
The partition of the country in 1947 caused a set-back to the industries due to the migration of skilled Muslim labour to Pakistan. The gap was, however, filled up by the refugees who migrated from Pakistan. This was a period of industrial crisis and production in most of the industries was below the average level. But the post-partition era showed a tremendous progress in the expansion of industries despite Gurdaspur being a border district. The number of industrial units in the district at the end of the First Five-Year Plan, 1951-56, was estimated at 1904. These units included industries like machine tools, agricultural implements, brass utensils, electrical goods, leather and leather goods, sports goods, woollen textiles, food production, radio and radio parts, handlooms, cycle parts including cycle rims, sewing machines, furniture, rubber goods and conduit pipes.
2. Electricity Statistics of Punjab, 1971-72, pp
36-37, 54-55, 72-73, 86-87, 89-91, 94-95,96-97, 160-163 (Issues in 1972 by the
Economic Adviser to Government, Punjab, Chandigarh) ;
Statistical
Hand Book, Punjab, 1972-73, p. 54 ; and
Statistical
Hand Book, Punjab, 1974-75, p. 61
The number of industrial units and their production in the district, increases further during the Second Five-Year Plan, 1956-61. By the end of the plan period in 1961, the number of industrial units was 3,227. The Batala Co-operative Sugar Mill, Ltd., Batala, in the large-scale sector, came into existence in 1956. The production of agricultural implements-specially of this district-modern machine tools, cycle parts, steel springs, pattern making, conduit pipes and sports goods, etc. has expanded fast. The important industrial focal points in the district are Batala, Pathankot, Dhariwal, Dinanagar and Gurdaspur.
In 1971-72 there were as many as 8 units in the large-scale sector, engaged in textile, sugar, flour and agricultural implements ; 1,103 units in the small-scale sector, engaged mainly in the production of machine tools, agricultural implements, cycle parts, utensil making, sports goods, rubber goods, conduit pipes, radio and sound equipments, steel furniture and wood furniture, washing soap, etc. and 3,963 units engaged in the cottage and village industries. These employed 4,273 persons in the large-scale sector, 11,117 in the small-scale sector and 5,936 in the cottage and village industries.
(g) Industries and
Manufactures of the district3
The present day industries in the district may be classified under three broad heads, viz. large and medium scale, small-scale and cottage and village industries. A few industries, which fall partly in the large-scale sector and partly in the small-scale sector, have been discussed as a whole among those in the large-scale sector. The jail industries have been mentioned separately.
(i)
Large and Medium-Scale Industries
(1) Textile Industry. –Woollen textiles industry in the large-scale sector is most important industry of the district. There is only one large-scale textile concern, known as the British India Company Ltd., New Egerton Woollen Mills Branch, situated at Dhariwall. Established in 1880, it is prominent and the oldest woollen textile unit in northern India. During 1971-72, the unit employed 3,307 workers and produced 6,570 quintals of goods worth Rs 4,32,89,256. Its exports to the foreign countries were worth Rs 7,32,569.
The entire textile industry is controlled by the Government of India through the Textile Commissioner. The allocation of woollen worsted yarn-controlled item, to the hosierty industry is made by the State Department of Industries. Prior to the partition of the country in 1947, this industry was mostly in the hands of Muslims, who migrated to Pakistan.
3. Report on the Industrial Survey of Gurdaspur (Chandigarh,
1959)
(2) Engineering Industry. – Engineering industry in the large-scale sector is the most important industry of the district. It has been localised at Batala, where it was established long before the partition of the country in 1947. In private sector, a large-scale Beco Engineering Company Ltd. (formerly the Batala Engineering Company Ltd., and now popularly known as ‘Beco’) was established in 1933. As a result of the partition of the country, the industry had been altogether crippled, but gradually it has revived and developed and gained considerable prominence. This unit manufactures machine tools and agricultural implements and is also running steel re-rolling mills. These products are supplied to the various parts of the country.
In 1971-72, four other units, in large/medium scale sectors, were engaged in the manufacturing of agricultural implements and machinery, which produced goods worth Rs 1,59,67,832 and gave employment to 665 persons. The value of goods exported during the year was worth Rs 1,82,574.
(3) Sugar Industry. – This is one of the most important rural industries of district. Since there was no sugar mill in this area, the Batala Co-operative Sugar Mill Ltd., Batala, was established in 1956 to help the growers of sugarcane. It went into production during the crushing season of 1963-64. This is only the unit of its kind in the district in the large-scale sector. The main raw material i.e. sugarcane, is produced by growers of the Gurdaspur and Amritsar districts. The growers are provided with many facilities to ensure regular growing of cane to meet the requirements of the mill.
The mill crushes about 800 to 1,000 tonnes of cane is daily during the crushing season which lasts for three to four months. The sugar produced is stored in the mill’s godown. The monthly allotment of its sale is made by the Government of India, Ministry of Food and Agriculture (Directorate of Sugar and Vanaspati). The mill has also appointed accredited sugar agents in various towns to sell sugar on the rates approved by it. In 1971-72, this industry gave employment to 235 persons and its production was worth Rs 98,76,328.
All the affairs of the mill are managed by a Board of Directors, which includes five Government nominees and ten from the general puvlic.
(4) Flour Mills.- Power driven and roller flour have almost replaced the indigenous chakkies worked manually or through animals or water power for grinding of corn etc. The industry is perennial by nature and work is carried on throughout the year. In 1971-72, two units of roller flour mills in the large-scale sector were engaged in the industry which employed 66 persons and produced goods worth 1,42,85,638.
(5) Rice Mills.- Commercial rice production is becoming increasingly important in the Punjab. Though Punjab is predominantly wheat consuming area, the farmers have found it profitable to grow high-yielding paddy verities during the kharif season before growing wheat during rabi. In view of the importance of rice production on commercial basis, a study of the modernization of the paddy rice system, particularly at the procurement and processing stages, in the Punjab, was undertaken by the Centre for Management in Agriculture, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, and its report was submitted in October 1974. The report summaries the market arrival patterns, prices, facilities for storage and milling in the vicinity of mandis (markets), and other structural aspects of six mandis in the paddy growing districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Patiala. The report also analysed the extent of modernization in the existing sheller mills, based on 27 mills in these districts.
Out of the six mandis, on which study was undertaken, two, viz. Gurdaspur and Dhariwal, fall in the Gurdaspur District. The observations of the study team about these two mandis are given below.
In 1971-72, there were sheller mills in the Gurdaspur District. The milling capacity and paddy arrivals in the district, during the same year, was as under:
Capacity of mills per hour (metric tons) .. 52
Paddy arrival (thousand metric tons) .. 230
Average number of days required for milling in three
Shifts 184
On an average, the mills worked at full capacity (three shifts) for about five months in a year. But, actually the mills worked for more than five months as these operated at only two shifts a day. Power cuts, absence of mechanical drying facilities, and labour forced the mills to run under capacity.
The annual arrival of paddy and the storage available at the Gurdaspur and Dahriwal mandi, during 1971-72, were as under4:
|
Market |
|
Annual arrivals (metric tons) |
Total storage space (metric tons) |
|
Gurdaspur |
.. |
40,382 |
77,232 |
|
Dhariwal |
.. |
18,481 |
6,835 |
(ii) Small-Scale Industries
While greater emphasis is being laid on the development of large and medium-scale industries, there can be no underrating of the importance of small-scale industries, constituting as they do the mainstay of the State’s industrial economy. These also help in improving the economic condition of the people and provide sound foundation for a more balanced development of the state. This sector, therefore receives constant attention of the State Government under various schemes.
________________________________________________________________________
4. Gupta, V.K. and George, P.S. Modernization of Rice Processing
Industry in Punjab (Cyclostyled report issued in 1947 by the Centre for
Management in Agriculture, Indian Institutes of Management, Ahmedabed.
The role of small-scale industries has been fully recognised for ensuring diffusion of ownership, dispersed growth of industries, benefits of modern scientific technology and supply of standard quality of consumer goods. A number of products have been exclusively reserved for production in the small-scale industries sectors. The district has a network of small-scale industries, catering mainly to a large variety of engineering goods, sports gods, hand tools, rubber goods, sewing machines, conduit pipes, etc.
The different small-scale industries existing in the district are given below:
(6) Machine Tools.- Engineering is the most important industry of the district. Originally started in 1945, it is mainly centralised at Batala. The industry was greatly facilitated by the availability of evacuee building and the necessary raw material, coupled with the suitable soil and climatic conditions for foundry units. Its main products are lathes, shapers, planners, drill machines, spinning lathes, power presses, fly presses and hacksaw machinery, etc. In the beginning, it could hardly meet the local requirements, but with the passage of time, it started attracting customers from all over the country as most of the factories started production of graded machines.
(7) Agricultural Implements.- This industry came into existence in 1942. Chaff cutters and sugarcane crushers were the main items of production up to the partition of the country in 1947. Later on, the production of farm machinery like wheat and maize thrashers, disc harrows, seed cum fertilizer drills, etc. also started. The units engaged in the industry are mostly equipped with a foundry section. The development of the foundry industry in the district is mainly due to the availability of suitable clay at Batala for moulding purposes. Some units have taken up the manufacture of diesel engines and centrifugal pumps, reflex valves and bends, etc. which are being marketed not only for local consumption but also to meet demand from other States. These products are being mainly used for facility of irrigation.
In 1971-72, 784 units are engaged in the production of machine tools and agricultural implements, which employed 8,702 persons and produced goods worth Rs 4,97,04,745.
(8) Trunks and Balties.- This is an old industry of the district and its important centres are Gurdaspur, Batala, Dinanagar and Pathankot. The products include trunks, pails, bath-tubs and pans. The essential raw materials consumed by the industry are G.P. sheet and black sheets.
(9) Utensils Making.- This industry was originally started in the times of Maharaja Ranjit Singh when the thatharis used to prepare guns and also brass utensils of the old type to meet the local needs. The thathiar community have concentrated their residence in a part of the Batala town, known as the Thathiari Gate. They have adopted this industry as a hereditary occupation and have developed their work in course of time. The manufacturing is carried on by manual as well as machine processes. Brass/bronze utensils is prepared at Batala have market all over the country. The important raw material consumed by the industry are brass ingots and scrap.
During 1971-72, 114 units were engaged in this industry which employed 438 persons and produced goods worth Rs 33,14,614.
(10) Conduit Pipes.- The industry was started at Dinanagar a few years before the partition of the country in 1947 when demand for conduit pipes arose for electrical fittings. Originally, only one unit at Dinanagar was engaged in the industry. After the partition, when the demand for its product increased, a few more units came into existence at Dinanagar and Gurdaspur. The main material required for the industry is black sheets of 16 to 33 gauge.
In 1971-72, 10 units were engaged in the industry which gave employment to 432 persons and produced goods worth Rs. 87,83,000.
(11) Saw Milling and Woodworking.- This important industry of the district exists at Pathankot, Dinanagar, Dhariwal, and Batala. Its products include planks and shooks, takhties (school boys’ boards of write on), pawas (legs of cot), harmonious, furniture, tonga and rickshaw hoods, tokas (chaff-cutters) handles, etc. Timber is the main raw material which is available in abundance in the district. Pathankot is the biggest timber market in the state. Quite a large quantity of wood is also available at other places in the district.
In 1971-72, nine units were engaged in manufacturing steel furniture and wooden furniture which gave employment to 72 persons and produced goods worth 6,45,000.
(12) Soap Making.- Soap manufacturing units exist at Pathankot, Dhariwal, Dinanagar, Gurdaspur and Batala. Only washing soap is manufactured here. The equipment used in the industry is very simple and does not require much investment. The main raw materials required are oil, soda caustic and soda silicate.
Besides local consumption, the soap manufactured in the district is also sent to the neighbouring areas of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir States. In 1971-72, 57 units were engaged in the industry which gave employment to 84 persons and produced soap worth Rs 12,80,314.
(13) Sports Goods.- This is a post-partition industry established by this displaced industrialists from Sialkot in Pakistan. It is confined to the manufacture of various types of sports goods, viz., rackets, volleyballs, footballs, leatehr covers, shuttlecocks, cricket bats, hockey sticks.
The
main raw materials consumed by the industry are mulberry wood, cane, rubber,
sheets, leather, etc. Originally, about
150 units were set up at Batala, but by and by most of these have shifted to
Jullundur which offers a better market.
The industry is facing a crisis due to the non-availability of special
type of raw material for manufacture of hockey sticks and cricket bats.
In 1971-72, 32 units were engaged in the industry which gave employment to 116 persons and produced goods worth Rs 1,39,500.
(14) Cycle Parts.- Cycle and cycle parts industry was established in the district in 1943, when a concern at Batala started the production of saddles. The World War II (1939-45) gave a fillip to the industry and a number of concern started manufacturing cycle parts. The partition (1947) gave a serve set-back to the industry but the position improved later on. The raw material used by the industry are of a varied type, viz., plain sheets, flat , angles, rounds, pipes, rubber tyres ,paints, varnishes and nuts, etc.
Another concern at Batala started the production of rims in 1954 and ha made good progress.
In 1971-72, eight units were engaged in the industry which gave employment to 288 persons and produced goods worth RS 17,09,000.
(15) Sewing Machines.- This is an important light engineering industry. Due to keen competition in the market, the industry remained more or less static. A unit manufacturing sewing machines at Gurdaspur could not progress much and consequently changed its line of production. However, a firm at Batala undertakes job work for assembling complete sewing machine, stands, etc.
in 1971-72, two units were engaged in the manufacture of sewing machines and parts. These gave employment to 89 persons and produced goods worth Rs 4,95,000.
(16) Rubber Goods.- This industry was established in the 1952. It is certralised at Dinanagar, where two units are engaged in the manufacture of rubber beltings, which are commonly used by all factories for running their machines. Another unit at the same place is engaged in the manufacture of rubber canvas shoes, saddles, horns, etc. The essential raw materials required by the industry are raw rubber, canvas, and chemicals. The goods are readily saleable in view of their cheapness and good demand.
In 1971-72, 12 units were engaged in the industry which gave employment to 315 persons and produced goods worth Rs 92,82,000.
(17) Radio and Radio Parts.- The important restrictions imposed during the World War II (1939-45) and the Government policy therefore gave an impetus to the industry. The number of units engaged in it increased from 3 in 1954-55 to 12 in 1971-72. In 1971-72, the industry gave employment to 40 persons and produced goods worth Rs 4,39,000.
The raw materials required by the industry are confined to electrical goods and radio parts.
(18) Steel Re-rolling.- There is a great market for the re-rolled steel due to an overall spurt in the construction work. It meets the demand of the district and also some other parts of the State. The main raw material required for the industry are scarp iron, billets and steam coal.
In 1971-72, two units were engaged in the production of rounds square flat bare, strip angles, etc. These units employed 135 persons and their production was worth Rs 27,01,000.
(19) Bolts and Nuts.- In 1971-72, four units were engaged in the production of bolts and nuts in the district. These employed 26v persons and their production was worth Rs 59,000. The main raw materials used are steel rods and strips.
(20) Electrical Motors and Other Goods.- In 1971-72, there were 2 units producing electrical motors in the district. These employed 21 persons and produced 104 motors during the year. The raw material used are stamping (lamination), bearing, enamelled copper wire, mild steel, etc.
Besides, there were 9 units engaged in the production of other electrical goods. In 1971-72, these employed 82 persons and produced goods worth Rs 2,05,000.
(21) Surgical Instruments.- Stainless steel is mainly used for the manufacture ure of surgical instruments. In 1971-72, eight units were engaged in the industry in the district which employed 33 persons and produced goods worth Rs 153,000.
(22) Automobile Parts.- The industry offers good scope for expansion, especially in view of the increasing vehicular traffic on roads. The main raw material required by the industry is high carbon steel including steel springs.
In 1971-72, three units were engaged in the industry which gave employment to 45 persons and produced goods worth Rs 3,28,000.
(23) Plastic Goods,- The production of plastic bags has been gone up in the district. In 1971-72, two units were engaged in the industry which employed 12 persons and produced goods worth Rs 1,02,000.
(24) Batteries and Plants.- There is one unit in the district producing batteries and plants. In 1971-72, it employed 17 persons and produced goods worth Rs 95,000.
(25) Food Product.- This is an important industry of the district. During 1971-72, 10 units were engaged in it which employed 125 persons and produced goods worth Rs 20,31,000.
(iii) Cottage and Village Industries
The cottage and village industries play a significant role in the rural economy of the district. These provide vocational to the rural masses to supplement their income. The improvement of the agriculture largely depends upon the resuscitation of small-scale village industries. Since Gurdaspur is primarily an agriculture district and most of its population lives in villages, these industries provide part-time jobs to the agriculturist in the off season and, thus, help in removing unemployment to some extent.
Owing to marketing and transport difficulties, there are very few organised industries in the rural areas. The important cottage and village industries, which all function almost on a small-scale or as family units, are described.
(26) Hand Spinning.- Previously, spinning of cotton yarn was done by hand driven charkhas to meet the local needs only. Recently, Amber charkha has been introduced to increase the population of yarn. Centres have been opened in various villages for imparting training in the working of the Amber Charkha. The All-India Khadi Board, the Punjab Charkha Sangh and the Punjab Khadi Gram Udyog Sangh purchase hand-spum yarn and supply it to weavers for production of Khadi cloth.
(27) Handloom Weaving and khadi.- This is an important village industry. It received a great set-back on the partition of the country in 1947 when the Muslim artisans migrated to Pakistan. The gap was, however, filled up by the refugee artisans, who migrated to the district from Pakistan. The Punjab Khadi Gram Udyog Sangh has been taken effective steps to encourage the industry. Yarn is supplied to weavers who undertake weaving on wage basis. In many villages, the Co-operative Department has been also organised weaver’s handloom co-operative industrial societies which undertake on an organised basis.
In
1971-72, there were 1,225 units engaged in the industry which gave employment
to 2.257 persons and produced goods worth Rs 5,19,385.