Yamunanagar: Plywood factories, timber markets to remain closed due to Kanwar Yatra

Tribune News Service

Shiv Kumar Sharma

Yamunanagar, July 14

With the announcement of the closure of plywood factories and wood markets due to Kanwar Yatra, which started today, the rates of poplar wood have witnessed a decline.

Units to remain closed from July 21 -25

The development has disappointed poplar growers (farmers) of this region.

The rates of poplar wood were up to Rs 1,450 per quintal last week. However, the rates have now come down to Rs 1,350 per quintal — a decline of about Rs 100 per quintal.

Common Route

• A large number of Kanwarias use the Yamunanagar-Saharanpur-Haridwar road for the yatra.
• The route is also used by most of the poplar growers of Uttar Pradesh to supply their wood to the plywood industry of Yamunanagar district.

Rates Rs 1,350/quintal

Rates of poplar wood have come down by about Rs 100 per quintal. I bought poplar wood for Rs 1,350 per quintal on Thursday, but the rate was Rs 1,450 per quintal a few days ago. Arhtiya, dealing in poplar and eucalyptus wood

Farmers of Yamunanagar district — which is considered to be the hub of poplar wood in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab — supply poplar wood to the plywood industry.

Notably, a large number of Kanwarias belonging to Yamunanagar district and several other districts of Haryana and Punjab go to Haridwar to take a holy water in Ganga to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.

They use the Yamunanagar-Saharanpur-Haridwar road and the said route is also used by most of the poplar growers of Uttar Pradesh to supply their wood to the plywood industry of Yamunanagar district.

The Kanwar Yatra has begun today, but on the announcement of arhtiyas, the wood markets of Yamunanagar district situated in Mandauli and Manakpur villages will remain closed from July 18 to July 27.

However, plywood factories will remain closed from July 21 to July 25.

“Both wood markets and plywood factories of the district will remain closed for about one week due to the yatra. Following this development, the rates of poplar wood have come down by about Rs 100 per quintal. I bought poplar wood for Rs 1,350 per quintal today, but the rate was Rs 1,450 per quintal a few days ago,” said an arhtiya dealing in poplar and eucalyptus wood. Poplar growers said they wanted Kanwar Yatra to take place smoothly, but the downfall in poplar rates was a setback for them.

“After a gap of several years, the rates of poplar wood had started increasing in these past few months. Now, the rates have started going down again and they may see more decline in future as the wood markets will see an abundance of poplar wood when these open again on July 28,” said Brijesh Kumar, a poplar grower of Devdhar village. JK Bihani, president, Haryana Plywood Manufacturers Association, said there was a low demand of finished goods (ply, board and other items) in the market as many areas of Gujarat and Maharastra were witnessing a flood-like situation.

“Every year, our factories remain non-functional for some days during Kanwar Yatra. But this year, there is a low demand of our products due to several reasons, including the rainy season,” said JK Bihani.

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