More than three decades old Rojka Meo industrial estate in Nuh here, around 30 km from Gurugram, remains grossly neglected as it lacks basic amenities.
The industrial estate off Gurugram-Alwar highway, which witnessed one of its worst fires this past week in which three persons were killed, including two Chinese nationals, does not have a fire station, street lights, a water treatment plant and a sewage system.
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Mewat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) senior vice-president D.K. Mehta said not a single new industry has been set up in the estate over the past more than a decade.
“Only 36 units have been operating in this industrial estate as of today against 200 plots. In fact, more than 40 industrialists have shut shops and moved out because of lack of basic facilities,” said Mr. Mehta.
Most of the units in the industrial area supply parts and components to Maruti in Manesar. MMTC-PAMP India Pvt. Ltd, a joint venture company between Indian government and a Switzerland company spread over 10-acre, refining gold and silver, is also situated in the industrial area.
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Mr. Mehta, who runs Roop automotive unit, said he and several other industrialists had chosen Industrial Model Township, Manesar, for expansion of business due to better facilities.
MCCI vice-president Ajay Ahlawat said fire station was the most urgent need for the industrial area, adding that around half-a-dozen incidents of fire had occurred in the industrial estate in less than a year.
Mr. Ahlawat said fire can be caused due to any reason and immediate help can help scale down the extent of loss of property and lives.
“In the event of a fire, the fire tenders are called from Nuh and Sohna. It takes 20-30 minutes for them to reach the spot. This time can be reduced if a fire station is set up in the industrial area itself,” he said.
Mr. Ahlawat, also vice-president operations for MMTC-PAMP India Private Limited, said the land earmarked for the fire station was encroached upon.
He said the industrialists were ready to contribute for the setting up of the fire station as well.
He said the MCCI had on several occasions written to the authorities to attract their attention to it, but there was no reply. The industrial estate was earlier held by the Haryana Urban Development Authority, but was transferred to Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) a week ago, he added.
The industrialists also ruled that there were no transport facilities for over 5,000 workers employed in various units.
Former Haryana Transport Minister and senior Congress leader Aftab Ahmed met Nuh Deputy Commissioner seeking basic facilities for the industrial estate at the earliest.
The HSIIDC officials could not be contacted for their comments.