File picture of flood in Ganjam

Berhampur, Nov. 1: More than 1,000 small and micro industries in Ganjam district have been affected because of Phailin and subsequent floods, suffering a loss of about Rs 2,000 crore.

Vice-chairman of the Odisha Industries Federation Rajendra Kumar Mishra said this during a discussion with the joint director of industries at the district industries centre here yesterday.

“We have demanded a grant of Rs 2,000 crore to rebuild the infrastructure. At least one-year holiday for these units in income tax, service tax, VAT and central excise, and moratorium for one year on all statutory repayments of banks and financial institutions should be allowed to us,” said Mishra.

“Immediate intervention by the state and the Centre can only save the industries,” he said.

Representatives of the hotel association, crusher unit association, granite association, rice mill association and others were present at the meeting.

A fact-finding team of the federation visited the cyclone-hit areas, including Chhatrapur, Berhampur, Hinjili, Digapahandi, Purushottampur, Aska, Belaguntha, Bhanjanagar and Govindpur, on October 22 and submitted its report to the state government.

On the other hand, general manager of the Ganjam District Industries Centre Satya Narayan Sethi said a preliminary damage report had been prepared and submitted to the government.

“I have asked all the industry promotion officers to assess the loss caused to the industrial units in every block by November 15. As the damage to the industries in Ganjam has been unprecedented, we have requested the banks to give additional loans to the entrepreneurs,” said Sahu.