Dombivli Reactor Blast: MIDC begins survey to relocate hazardous chemical

“This committee, acting on government orders, is conducting a feasibility survey to identify hazardous chemical units operating here. Identified hazardous companies will be relocated, while other companies may need to switch their business activities to engineering, IT, or other sectors,” Avhad said.

When asked if manufacturers’ representatives are included in the committee, Avhad explained that it is a government committee, and members will meet with manufacturers after the survey.

Industrial unit owners are unhappy with the move, questioning the government order and blaming the government for ignoring encroachments into buffer zones.

An association of industrial companies wrote to the chief executive engineer of Dombivli MIDC on Friday, appealing to halt the survey immediately. “Our members are still grappling with the aftermath, and continuing survey activities at this juncture feel both insensitive and premature,” states a letter signed by Raju Bailur, president of the Kalyan Ambernath Manufacturers Association.

The association has called for immediate suspension of survey activities and demanded to reconsider the forced relocation of industries.

Following the Dombivli MIDC blast, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde ordered companies dealing with hazardous chemicals to shift their units out of residential areas. Shinde suggested that industries move to Ambernath or change land use from chemical to IT, engineering or textile.

A company owner from Dombivli MIDC noted that their family set up business decades ago. “Initially, locals encroached on MIDC land and started living here, gaining employment from industries. Now, their families are educated and no longer dependent on these companies. So, they want the industries to move away,” he said.

Another company owner pointed out, “There was a buffer of 1 to 1.5 km between MIDC and residential areas. This buffer zone has been violated by residential buildings, which were granted permission by authorities. Why didn’t they consider maintaining the buffer zone?”

Local resident Shailesh Mhatre, 42, recounted the blast’s impact: “The May 23 blast caused immense damage to my house and others in the vicinity. Fortunately, no one was harmed, but we are forced to live in fear. It’s not the first time such blasts have occurred; many times, in the past, blasts happened, but no one cares about poor people’s lives.”