The textile industry in Surat has lost Rs 250 crores in two days following an indefinite strike called by transporters to protest a crackdown by the civic body on godowns in residential areas.

Over the past few days, the Surat Municipal Corporation has sealed 100 textile godowns in residential areas, and on Tuesday served notice to 70 others at Umarwada in the city.

Acting on complaints by the residents for causing nuisance and traffic problems, the SMC started a crackdown on godowns in residential areas of the city.

The transporters will have to find new godowns on their own.

Following the strike, over 350 trucks of the Surat Market Transporter Association have not left the city for the past two days. The association has also stopped taking bookings from textile traders. The strike is apparently being supported by parcel contractors and labor contractors.

The entire chain of the textile industry has been disturbed as finished products of saris and dress materials are stuck in transport godowns.

The textile industry is one of the oldest and the most widespread industries in Surat. The textile industry in Surat is mainly engaged in the activities of yarn production, weaving, processing as well as embroidery. Surat is mainly engaged in the production and trading of synthetic textile products. Nearly 30 million meters of raw fabric and 25 million meters of processed fabric are produced in Surat daily.