Mill workers demand land for housing

Objecting to the land deal between the National Textile Corporation and a private trust, hundreds of mill workers protested at the Kohinoor mill no. 1 and 2 in Dadar on Monday. Prajakta Chavan Rane reports.

Objecting to the land deal between the National Textile Corporation and a private trust, hundreds of mill workers protested at the Kohinoor mill no. 1 and 2 in Dadar on Monday.

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Of the 22 acres occupied by the Kohinoor mill no. 1 and 2, six acres have been given to the private trust, the workers alleged.

They claimed that the trust had not given them the 2 acres for their housing project to be taken up by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada).

"According to the development control regulations (DCR), the private trust has to give 1/3rd of the open land for mill workers' houses. But, it has not been done. Also, our dues amounting to Rs 2.5 crore have still not been paid," said Pravin Ghag, general secretary, Girini Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti.

The mill workers plan to hold another rally from Grant Road to chief minister's residence on January 16.

"Since the government does not have the land to construct houses for mill workers, the 112 acres of land occupied by closed mills in the city should be used for the project," said Datta Iswalkar, president, Girini Kamgar Sangharsh Samitee.

"Workers demanded their dues pending since 1983, prior to the takeover of the mill, be cleared. Legally, the dues are the responsibility of the erstwhile mill owner. We have no problem with giving land for the housing project. The proposals for the project are pending with the civic body. Once they are cleared, the land will be handed over to the development authority," said an NTC official on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.