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Development of a
country or a state is reflected on what and how much
it is contributing in the main stream of the flow of
currency. In 1962 Bikaner joined the Industrial
Development movement. Though somewhat late but in
this short span of time its rise is far too long.
The first industrial area was delineated and the
Bikaner district association formed, in between
1967-70. The callous condition of living in Bikaner
which made most of the Bikaneries to move to other
regions and start there business there. But now the
circumstances has been changed by the hard working
and strength of Bikaneries. And also businessman
were encouraged by the state authorities to start
industries in their home district. Now not only
Bikaneries but people from nearby areas are also
participating in this eruption of industrial
development. It was early eighties that the small
scale industries got the focus and the advancement
was achieved at the end of eighties. Industries
based on wool, Agricultural products, Chemicals and
Ceramics were started in this period. In the present
industrial estate, there are 250 fully developed
plots with industries working on them . In 1980 ,
the Bikaner industries association mooted the idea
of a second industrial estate and accordingly an
area of 250 acres of land was set aside and the
foundation stone for the scheme was laid by the
Chief Minister Shiv Charan Mathur, on October 20,
1982.
The most flourishing industries in Bikaner are:
Woolen
Industry
Bikaner has been the biggest Woolen mandi (Mart)
not only in India but also in Asia. The city has
been a center of wool trade for over 185 years. The
wool from Bikaner is being used at Badhohi, Uttar
Pradesh for making of quality carpets. It has been
famous for carpet making for centuries. Bikaner Jail
is still famous for its carpet weaving.
Ceramic
Industry
Bikaner has some good deposit of Gypsum at Jamsar,
Kolayat 40km from Bikaner. Industries based on white
clay, fullers-earth, and yellow ocher are working in
Bikaner. Maharaja Ganga Singh had sent silica-sand
to Belgium and quality glass articles using this raw
material had been specially manufactured and can be
seen in the museum in Bikaner even today.
Bhujiya
and Namkeen Industry
Bikaner is famous worldwide for its Papad and
Bhujia. Bhujia has always been identified with
Bikaner. The tasty Rajasthani food can never be
completed without Bhujia , which is actually a
Namkeen prepared with the strength of arm. There are
hundreds of big and small units making Papad and
Bhujia which provide employment to thousands of
people. At present there are about 425 units
producing Bhujia in Bikaner district and nearby
areas of Shri Dungargarh, Churu, Nagaur and Sri-Gaganagar.
Out of these only a few have a proper plant and well
planned production system, the rest are small and
cottage type industries.
The future of industrial development of Bikaner is
bright with two essential ingredients, water from
the Rajasthan canal and power from the Suratgarh
Thermal Power Plant. Development in Bikaner is
likely to get a major boost plus the ever hard
working population of Bikaner which has evolved
itself from the hard terrain life with very less
resources and now after Rajasthan canal it is
definitely going to be an emerging city.
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