The production of man-made fabric (MMF) has drastically decreased after Diwali as more than 60 per cent of the workers in the powerloom units have not returned from their hometowns in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha.

The production of unfinished fabric has been reduced to almost half at 1.5 crore metres per day against three crore metre per day average before Diwali festival, according to MMF sources.

The festival season is still continuing in most parts of the country including north and southern states and the demand for fabrics is increasing. The incessant rain has affected the supplies of fabrics to Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Traders are, however, confident that the demand will rise in the coming days.

The powerloom units in Surat employ around 7.5 lakh workers. Around 90 per cent of them are migrants hailing from Bihar, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Majority of the workers are from Bihar. Many powerloom weavers have been forced to operate their units in a single shift due to the shortage of workers, the sources said.

President of Katargam-Ved Road Weavers Association, Devesh Patel said, “Many workers in the weaving units have left the city due to Bihar elections and Diwali festival. The elections are over, but the workers yet to resume duty.