Erode: Around 500 bales of bedsheets worth Rs one crore produced by Chennimalai weavers for supply to Kerala have been lying in the worksheds of weavers due to the protests over the Mullaperiyar dam issue, industry sources said. Chennimalai is a famous production centre in the district for bedsheets, bedspreads, towels which are supplied to various states, including Kerala, Karnataka and Delhi. Demand for bedsheets from Kerala used to be high during winter and twice a week 500 bales each comprising 50 bedsheets would be sent to Kochi, Ernakulam, Allepy, Palakkad and other places, Nachimuthu, a weaver, said.
This year also sufficient orders were received but the finished products could not be sent to the destinations in Kerala in the wake of the tension in the border areas of the two states following protests over the dam issue, he said.
Some weavers were arranging for transportation of the bedsheets through Railways, but the freight charges were slightly costlier.
Meanwhile, for the fifth day in succession, no vegetable was sent to Kerala from Erode and Sathyamangalam.
The district has been witnessing traders bandh and other protests over the dam issue in the past few days.
PTI