The two week long mega cultural event is posing a challenge to the civil and the police administration facing a rough time this year in handling the rush of Kanwadias arriving here on two-wheelers. The highways were closed at the entry points adjoining Uttar Pradesh and Haryana which has affected the industrial enterprises here due to non-movement of raw materials and finished goods. The schools are closed for a week till July 30. However it is a boom time for the local priests and business communities including the hoteliers, fruit vendors, owners of roadside eateries and the sellers of Kanwad items who are making brisk profits.
The industrial production may have been adversely hit but in the main markets of Bhupatwala, Moti Bazaar, Bara Bazaar and the Upper Road, the shopkeepers are doing brisk business selling various items. Almost all the shopkeepers shut down their routine business and start selling the Kanwad items, including vessels to carry Ganga water, towels, vests, bells, Rudraksh rosaries and gift items which the Kanwadias generally purchase for their families. It is estimated that in general a Kanwadia stays here for about two days and spends about Rs 1,500 in this duration. Apart from this some Kanwadias buy expensive and elaborate Kanwads costing up to Rs 8000.
Speaking to this correspondent, senior superintendent of police Janmejay Khanduri said that till now over a crore Kanwadias have come to the city and gone back to their respective home towns.
“Kanwad Mela has generated a considerable income for different segments of business community in the district and also generated employment for thousands of people. Kanwad decoration expenses range from Rs 500 to Rs one lakh depending on the size and decor,” says Kailash Keshwani, the president of the District Vyapar Mandal. The craze for the biggest Kanwad worth Rs one lakh fetched many a craftsman handsome profits.
However industrial production in the BHEL and the SIIDCUL units has come down since big containers carrying raw material are not allowed to enter the city. Speaking to the Pioneer, the president of SIIDCUL Manufacturers Association of Uttarakhand, Harendra Garg said, “The industries have incurred considerable losses during this period to the tune of some Rs 15 crore. About 80 per cent industries have closed down their business and for the past one week, the production has been hampered in manufacturing industries. The non-movement of vehicles has created dearth of raw material for the industry. One cannot keep inventory for more than four days in case of some items.”
Meanwhile, some people started small manufacturing units of making Gangajalis (plastic can used to hold Ganga water). Rajan Rathore who is running a small cottage industry in Jwalapur says, “We took loan for to procure plastic material from Ghaziabad before the Mela began. We sell to the retailer a Gangajali at Rs 10 and Rs. 15 and he sells it in the market for Rs 20 to Rs 30 depending on the size.”