UP: Heavy rains wash away hopes of carpet ind

Varanasi, Jul 14: Continuous rainfall and sultry weather conditions has adversely affected the carpet industry in Varanasi.

The rainy season has turned out to be a bane for the carpet weavers in the region.

The carpet weavers and makers have incurred losses to the tune of millions of rupees.

"There is nothing that we can do during this season. We cannot dry the carpets and we cannot colour the carpets. It's a great loss for the manufacturers as well as the workers," said Hirday Narayan Giri, a worker.

While farmers rejoice and celebrate the showers, the rains drops hard hit the carpet weavers.

It is not only the daily wageworkers who are badly hit, but even carpet exporters are incurring huge monetary losses.

Though the carpet industry sees a decline in the business during the monsoons every year, the carpet weavers observe that the region had not witnessed such incessant rains as was experienced recently.

S. K Sinha, Secretary of All India Carpet Manufacturing Association says that the carpets need sunlight, else the moisture and dampness damage the colour and the texture.

"Its important after dyeing that the wool should be dried in sunlight otherwise it will get spoilt and damage the colour. After washing the carpets need to be dried under sunlight with out which it can get spoilt due to moisture. Packaging too, due to dampness it can damage the goods. This way it's creating a lot of problems," said Sinha.

Varanasi is famous for its hand woven carpets world over, especially in the American and European countries. By Girish Kumar Dubey

ANI