KOZHIKODE: After successfully launching one of the biggest urus manufactured in Asia, the wooden vessel builders ‘Binafa Enterprises’ plans to set up a private yard near Feroke in Kozhikode.
The company -- one of the two that make urus for supplying to various countries in the Middle East -- took the decision following the good response to the vessel they have constructed and the increasing demand.
Abdul Gafoor, proprietor of Binafa Enterprises, told ‘Express’ that the yard would be coming up on 80 cents of land at Karuvanthiruthy in Feroke, which they have purchased.
The shed where the uru would be built would have 10,000 sq ft area. Gafoor said at least five urus could be constructed there at a time.
However, he refused to comment on the investment that has gone in for purchasing the land and building the yard. Admitting that they were doing good business with the Middle East countries, Gafoor said the interest shown by Emir of Qatar to strengthen their relations with India, besides expanding the business, was a positive sign for the wooden vessel building sector as well.
Every year, at least five urus are constructed in Kozhikode district and sent to Middle East countries.
The scope of expansion is high especially due to the fact that there is good demand from those places, one of the reasons being the less cost compared to that in their countries.
This would not only bring foreign money to the country, but revive the industry which has seen a slump in the recent years due to negligence of the government. The industry provides vast job opportunities as at least 100 people are required to construct one uru and the construction of the smallest uru takes around one year. The companies get about `10 crore annually.
Gafoor opined that the government should step in to support the art of making uru as it required skilled labour. Not many workers are coming forward unlike in the past when the construction of the wooden vessel flourished in the state.
Government support is also needed in getting land where the construction activities can be carried out. Presently, the companies are taking land on lease spending over `60,000 every month.
Similarly, the government can give some relief on tax, besides clearing the sales tax which is refundable, he said. Though the companies have written to the government, nothing positive has happened so far, he added.