Industrialists demand priority cluster status for Batala to revive manufacturing

Industrialists in Batala have reached a consensus that the city must be declared a ‘priority industrial cluster’ by the Central Government to revive its sagging industrial units.

Statistics indicate that a majority of industrial units have either shut down or relocated to neighbouring states such as Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, attracted by the more favourable business ecosystems offered there.

A ‘priority industrial cluster’ is a government-designated geographic hub focused on specific high-growth industries. Such clusters provide shared infrastructure, including utilities and logistics, promote innovation and skills development, and encourage close collaboration between industry and government. These measures help boost regional economies, employment generation and sustainable development.

Paramjit Singh Gill, president of the Batala Industrial Estate Factories’ Association (BIEFA), said, “Years of policy neglect, deteriorating infrastructure, lack of incentives and difficult access to low-interest finance have pushed a majority of industries into stagnation. This decline is not due to lack of capability, but due to the government’s inattention. Despite possessing unmatched technical talent and generations of industrial experience and expertise, the city’s units are struggling to survive.”

“We urge the state and Central governments to intervene immediately and declare Batala a ‘priority industrial cluster’ on the lines of Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Mohali and other prominent industrial cities of India,” he added.

Ravinder Handa, general secretary of the BIEFA, said the town, once celebrated as the ‘Manchester of India’, had been the backbone of Punjab’s economy. “Batala built its reputation across Asia through the manufacturing of machine tools, engineering goods, foundry products and highly skilled equipment for sectors such as agriculture,” he said.

Handa emphasised that Batala is ideally positioned to contribute to national initiatives like ‘Make in India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, particularly in defence-linked manufacturing, railways and engineering equipment. “We demand a time-bound revival package, including immediate infrastructure upgrades in industrial areas, special incentives for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and cluster-based skill development programmes. Continued inaction could permanently damage the state’s manufacturing base,” he warned.