People's Democracy

Stop Closure Of Industries In Delhi

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) issued the following statement October 6, 2004.

THE Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its serious concern on the large scale closure of small scale industries in the national capital territory of Delhi. The government of Delhi has been sealing the `F' category small-scale industries on the pretext of Supreme Court directives. Around 5,500 such units have already been sealed rendering one lakh families jobless. It is reported that starting from October 8, the Delhi government plans to seal another 20,000 such industrial units which will affect another six lakh people.

The Supreme Court had made it clear in its order on August 30 that the law can be amended to permit regularisation of the areas of industrial concentration. But that the authorities do not appear to be serious in regularising the matter in accordance with the law.

The Central government in consultation with the state government must immediately take steps to bring about necessary changes in the existing master plan of Delhi, so that the areas of industrial concentration can be regularised. Failure to do so will create a serious situation in Delhi putting at stake the livelihood of lakhs of workers and their families.