More than 2,200 units set up in the area over the last 15 years provide employment to 35,000 migrant workers from Bihar, Orissa and West Bengal among other states. The total loss suffered by the industries run into not less than Rs 30 crore, association president Pranjivan Bhagat said.

If the state and central government joined hands and provide immediate relief they can solve the problem of unemployment, beside helping industries to start production.

The association pointed out that subsidy announced after a survey of flood affected units in 1994 was yet to be passed on to the owners. Bhagat said industries were apprehensive similar fate awaited them for the second time in four years. He claimed that about 500 members of the association had employed workers in cleaning the premises and carrying out repairs and were paying them wages for the same. Now it was up to the state government to do its bit and make the industrial area throbbing with activity.