Brandix Apparel Park may reopen soon

Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC), one of the largest apparel

parks in the country based at Atchyutapuram near Vizag in Andhra Pradesh, may reopen soon with protesting fishermen softening their stand. This major break-through could be achieved when Joint Collector M Girija Shankar who promised to look at training of girls in the neighbourhood, so that they could get employment in the park. He further promised to undertake welfare measures under corporate social responsibility. While the protesters are hell-bent on continuing the protest in front of the main gate, BIAC officials are trying to sort out issues and making arrangements for the workforce to resume work at the earliest.

The development took place when the drastic fall in fish catch and capture of dead fish led to the agitation by people of three villages, who blamed the Brandix management for polluting the sea. They laid siege to the Brandix gate saying they deserved a package like the one offered to fishermen of Pudimadaka as they lost their livelihood.

Earlier, BIAC had signed an agreement with the people of Pudimadaka when they threatened to stall work on a pipeline. A pipeline was laid through the village to discharge treated effluents at the apparel park. The officials had also promised jobs and cash compensation to the affected fishermen but the management later denied fishermen’s demand for a package leading to the launch of an agitation by people of the three villages a month ago. An expert committee will now find out the genuineness of fishermen’s apprehension that Brandix was responsible for dwindling fish catch.