In a significant development, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has issued eviction notices to a group of small-scale industrialists operating from the Ferrodie Compound on Road No. 22 in Wagle Estate. The notices demand that the occupants vacate their premises within 48 hours, as a portion of the plot is set to be demolished to make way for the cluster redevelopment project in the area.
Industrialists Raise Concerns
Owners of approximately 16 out of 30 units in the compound, which collectively employ over 350 workers, addressed the media on Wednesday. They highlighted the sudden nature of the eviction order, emphasizing that they have been legal occupants and regular taxpayers for decades. The industrialists argued that the notice was issued without any prior consultation or warning.
"We were slapped with the notice without taking us into confidence. How can we immediately wind up our business and relocate elsewhere? The action could directly impact over 350 workers and over 1,400 dependents, besides causing significant financial losses to the units. We should be rehabilitated adequately," said a member of the Thane Small Scale Industries Association.
Appeal to Deputy CM
The affected industrialists have approached Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, requesting his intervention to ensure that the industries are not displaced under the cluster redevelopment plans. They seek a more considerate approach that includes proper rehabilitation before any demolition.
Political Support
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended its support to the industrialists. MLA Sanjay Kelkar warned the municipal authorities against disrupting the industrial zone in the name of redevelopment, threatening a bitter protest if the evictions proceed. "We are not opposed to cluster redevelopment, but why are these functioning industries being unnecessarily targeted? There are many illegal hookah parlours operating in the city and scores of illegal structures that are built and ignored, but there seems to be an undue urgency to bully and raze these legal small-scale industries," Kelkar said, taking a dig at the Shiv Sena-led municipal corporation.
Awaiting Response
A response from the Thane Municipal Corporation is awaited. The industrialists hope for a resolution that balances redevelopment goals with the livelihoods of hundreds of workers and their families.
