After diamond polishers, it is now the turn of small diamond manufacturing units in Surat to go on a strike over irregular payments and deductions made by diamond traders. Several diamond trading offices in Mahidharpura were closed on Tuesday. The diamond manufacturers will take out a rally on Wednesday to protest against the payment norms.

On Tuesday afternoon, more than 1,500 small diamond manufacturing unit owners from Varachha, Kapodara and Katargam gathered at the Community Hall at Motibag in Mahidharpura to discuss the future course of action. Mahidharpura is the biggest diamond trading area in the city. There are about 3,200 small diamond factories in Surat, which have 10 to 25 'gantis'.

The diamond unit owners made a representation to the Surat Diamond Association (SDA) ten days ago with their demands for some uniformity in payment norms between the diamond traders and unit owners. The diamond unit owners are paid after 150 to 200 days that results in a liquidity crunch. As the profit margin is low, the unit owners cannot pay the diamond polishers on time. They also demanded that the courier charges levied by the traders on them for delivery within the city should be done away with.

Despite the SDA's assurance of solving the issue, nothing has come out till date due to which, the diamond unit owners assembled on Tuesday. Seeing the gathering, several diamond traders downed their shutters. Police immediately swung into action and deployed a sizeable force at Mahidharpura to control the situation.

An agitating leader, Chandu Pethe, said: "Our demands are genuine and we will fight for them peacefully. Something should be done about the irregular payment norms. We had presented our demands in writing to the SDA but nothing has been done till date. We have called a daylong strike in the entire diamond industry on Wednesday, and we will take out a rally in Mahidharpura as part of our agitation. Majority of the small unit owners have confirmed their participation in the strike by keeping their factories closed."

He added: "The diamond traders are charging us Rs. 400 for diamonds worth Rs. 1 lakh as courier charge. The traders should levy the charge only if the delivery is made outside the city. There should be uniformity in payment. We will meet everyday and discuss our future course of action."