Jan 4, 2021
The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has claimed that the farmers’ agitation against new Agri laws will lead to economic loss of over ₹70,000 crore in the December quarter owing to supply chain disruptions, particularly in Punjab, Haryana, and border areas of Delhi.
The agreement reached between the government and farmers on two points — penalties for stubble burning and Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020 — is highly appreciable and the chamber looks forward to an early resolution of the remaining two issues as well, said Sanjay Aggarwal, President, PHDCCI.
Talks between the farmers and the Centre remain deadlocked over the main contentious issues of the repeal of three farm laws and a legal guarantee for MSP.
There are around 25 lakh MSMEs in Punjab and Haryana which employs more than 45 lakh workers contributing more than ₹4 lakh crore in the total ₹14 lakh crore GSDP (current prices) of Punjab and Haryana.
The GSDP (Gross State Domestic Product) of Punjab and Haryana was estimated at ₹5.75 lakh crore and ₹8.31 lakh crore respectively in 2019-20, Aggarwal said.
Sectors such as food processing, cotton textiles, garments, automobile, farm machinery, information technology, trading, tourism, hospitality, and transport have been severely impacted by the agitation which has disrupted supplies of many raw materials to the industry, he added.