The unprecendented deluge in Kashmir has crushed the backbone of bat industry and dashed dreams of hundreds of entrepreneurs who had exclusively invested to meet upsurge in demands during the upcoming Cricket World Cup, 2015.
“I had promised the Chief Minister (Omar Abdullah) that we will fabricate such good quality bats this year that Ricky Ponting would play with a Kashmir-made blade”, sighed Nazir Ahmad Salroo, President of Kashmir Cricket Bats Manufacturers Association. Salroo’s industrial unit at Padshahibagh was ruined by the flood fury that hit south Kashmir on September 3, three days before the capital Srinagar became the worst victim.
Initial estimates say that the bat manufacturers have suffered losses to the tune of Rs60 crores. “Thousands of willow clefts were washed away. The motors, sawmills, compressors and chisels remained under water for 10 days. Everything is destroyed”, Salroo said.
The 20-kilometer stretch from Jawbrara to Bijbehara on the sides of Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was the eye-catcher as around 300 bat-manufacturing units in the backyards of colourful showrooms were must-visit spots for travelers. Huge square pillars of willow clefts were erected in front of each shop with twin purpose of drying and exhibition. Most tourist vehicles used to stop near the shops to select blades for street players or club cricketers back home.
Every unit at Charsoo, Halmulla, Bijbehara, Sangam, Sethar, Pujteng, Mirzapor, Kachachkoot, Awantipora and Jawbrara was hit by the floods. “The processed bats were on sale in showrooms while the raw material was being processed in the industries. The water ruined everything”, said Abdul Majid Bandh, owner of Sartaj Sports at Mirzapur.
“The strong currents of flood washed away the pillars of clefts. Those spared are ruined by soaking. They cannot give us quality bats”, Bandh lamented.
The clefts are required to dry up for seven months before they are fabricated into bats. “They (clefts) remained submerged in water for more than a week. It is hard to dry them up. The water-soaking develops blackish streaks in the willow compromising its quality”, he said with a deep breath.
Salroo said that it would take a decade for the bat industry to recover from the huge setback. “During the past few years, we had progressed a lot to fabricate befitting stuff. We had received orders from international market and buyers were now approaching us directly instead of dealing through businessmen outside J&K”, he said.
His own unit, Salroo Sports had orders for 50,000 bats before the start of world cup 2015. “World Cup heralds boom for cricket bat sales as the tempo catches well before the event’s start”, he said.Many bat manufacturers had delayed their personal programmes and projects like marriage of a family member, embarking on Haj pilgrimage or construction of new house, only to invest more before the World Cup, he said.
Salroo himself invested Rs 30 lacs on his unit in the industrial area, which was evacuated by security forces through consistent intervention by the state government. “We thought the exclusive industrial area would give us the leverage but Nature had something else in store for us”, said Ibrahim Ganai, 60, another bat-manufacturer.
Salroo had promised that with latest industry interventions, the Kashmiri bat-makers were able to manufacture quality bats compared to English willow. “I was sure of playing my unit’s bat in the international events. I had promised the Chief Minister that likes of Ricky Ponting will play with Kashmiri bats”, he said.
Apart from clefts, the industrialists have lost handles, labels and other trappings required for bat-making. “The bat handles — craftily joined pieces of bamboo — are rendered useless after water seeps in”, he informed.