Srinagar, Aug 12 (KNO): Ukhoo village in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district—popularly known as the “Pencil Village of India” for supplying around 90 percent of the raw material used by pencil manufacturing companies across the country—is grappling with a double crisis.
Shortage of poplar trees, the primary raw material for pencil slats, and persistent unscheduled power cuts are threatening the livelihood of hundreds of workers.
Industrialists in the area told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that a large-scale felling of poplars in recent years, coupled with farmers switching to high-density apple plantations, has drastically reduced the availability of raw material.
They have urged the government to promote poplar cultivation to ensure the survival of the industry. “Poplar cultivation is on a steep decline in Kashmir. If this trend continues, our industry will be in deep trouble. We request the government to encourage and incentivise poplar planting so that the supply chain is not broken,” said Firdous Ahmad, an industrialist from Ukhoo.
Adding to the raw material crisis, the industry has been hit hard by irregular power supply as well.
The unit owners say their operations are electricity-dependent and prolonged outages are hampering production. “There should be 24×7 power supply, but we have been facing unscheduled cuts in simmers and mostly in winters. We had already brought the issue of a dedicated hotline to the notice of the authorities, who assured us of action, but nothing has been done yet,” Firdous Ahmad added.
Irshad Ahmad, another unit holder, said that despite paying electricity dues on time, the Power Development Department (PDD) has resorts to power cuts. “The government had promised uninterrupted electricity to this area, but the outages in the past have proved those promises hollow. The grid station is nearby; with minimal government support, a hotline can be installed for our industrial hub. We have even raised the matter with the LG, but no steps have been taken,” he said.
The Pencil Industry in Ukhoo provides direct and indirect employment to hundreds of locals, many of whom depend solely on it for their livelihood.
Industrialists are now appealing to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and the incoming Chief Minister to take immediate measures—both to restore scheduled power supply and to promote poplar cultivation—so that this unique industry, which has even been praised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, can continue to thrive.
“This is a genuine demand. We have high hopes from the new government and urge them to help us keep the wheels of this industry running smoothly,” the industrialists said—(KNO)