Kochi: The government is yet to come to the aid of nearly 70 small and medium plywood units in Perumbavoor and nearby areas which were badly hit by the recent floods. The unit owners are repairing and reinstalling equipment and other infrastructure and struggling to get back to normal business.
The owners of most of the nearly 450 plywood units in these areas have taken fresh bank loans or financial aid from private firms to get back on their feet.
"We never expected a flood of such magnitude. We didn't get time to shift anything from the units. Everything in the company was washed away in a couple of days," said S. Santhosh, manager of a plywood unit.
The companies are slowly restarting production as there are thousands of people who depend on them for their livelihood.
"Some of the machines have to be reinstalled while a few of them need only repairing. The machines cost a fortune, but we have no other choice," said M.M. Nizar, owner of Naas Plywoods.
The entrepreneurs are also hit by the inordinate delay in settling the insurance claims for damaged goods and machinery.
Since several fraudulent claims were received, the insurance firms are very careful and take more time for processing them.
