Flood-effect: Traders in Ajnala stare at losses, seek relief

Traders of Ramdas, Dera Baba Nanak and other villages and areas, which were affected by the floods, suffered huge losses. With the flood water receding at places, many shopkeepers reopened their shops only to find their goods destroyed by water. They sought compensation for the losses incurred as the water entered their shops causing stocks to be drenched.

The floods in Ajnala affected business with the sale figures coming down due to the closure of shops in a majority of the villages in the entire subdivision. Ajnala and Ramdas are considered the two flourishing trading towns supplying daily-need items to hundreds of villages around them. Ajnala is the biggest market with around 500 shops.

Sukhpinder Singh, a readymade merchant in Ajnala, said after the floods ravaged villages in this border subdivision, sales evaporated as customers in villages and around were battling for survival. Once proud breadwinners for their families, they did not have any other alternative but to look for relief for survival. Now, they do not know how much time it would take for them to settle down in their lives again.

Traders of Ramdas, Gagomahal, Thoba and adjoining Dera Baba Nanak areas were worst-hit by the floods and suffered losses due to flood water entering their shops, he said.

Traders in Ramdass managed to reopen their shops only a couple of days ago while others, who did not receive water, also recorded low sales. Barring woollen apparel and textile manufacturers and traders across the board are grappling with decline in sales since the floods hit the region.

Rajeev Aneja, a readymade garment dealer in the holy city, said the floods created negative sentiments among customers and the markets experienced a decline of 60 to 80 per cent in sales as compared to the corresponding period last year. He said the sale of cotton garments, which are preferred in the hot and sultry weather, has nosedived this season.

Piara Lal Seth, president of the Punjab Pradesh Beopar Mandal (PPBM), said the traders of Amritsar’s Ramdas block and Gurdaspur’s Dera Baba Nanak need to be compensated for their losses. He said entrepreneurs pay all kinds of taxes, including the GST and Income Tax, but when it comes to offer relief to them, they are not seriously considered.