Jobless for now, many fear they will not get salaries when establishments are re-opened.
Amidst the sealing of the shops and offices located at prime locations in the city, buildings like Maradia Plaza on CG Road and Mangalmurti Complex on Ashram Road are now open after getting a No Objection Certificate from the corporation.
But, even after the re-opening of some buildings on this arterial road in the city, it is believed that more than 1500 people still remain affected by the recent sealing drive of the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation. Almost 144 sites have been sealed -- or cleared -- by the AMC in the drive, which started on November 15. The employees working in offices and shops located on CG Road and Ashram Road are the worst hit.
According to figures released by the CG Road Shop and Building Association, 45 shops are sealed, and as a result, almost 300 people including employees and shop owners are now out of work. The figure on Ashram Road is quite high, as a majority of the buildings have 6 to 9 floors occupying several offices. It is believed that almost 1100 to 1200 employees of shops and offices of Ashram Road are now sitting at home. There will be no respite in the near future as well, as the drive will continue for another three months.
Prime buildings like Aatma House, Gagandeep, Trade Centre, Shefali Complex, Hemkut and Mangalmurti complex have been sealed on fire safety grounds, while Maradia Plaza, Om Complex, Chandan Complex and Karishma Complex on CG Road have also been sealed by the AMC.
Today, several members of the recently sealed nine-storied Aatma House on Ashram Road visited the building to see the fire safety work being done. They are hoping to get the NOC from the corporation on Monday. Majority of the visitors were employees working in offices of Aatma House.
They are now worried about their salary. "I am sure that we will not get paid during this period," fumes an employee of a finance firm located in the building. Some of the people gathered were the office boys and sweepers working at such offices. "We are already underpaid, so you can imagine our situation if they decide to deduct the salary," exclaimed a worried peon.
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