It has been more than two years since the chemical blast took place in Dombivli's Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) which killed 12 and injured 210 people.
Dombivli residents who suffered losses due to a blast in a chemical company two years ago want compensation as announced by the chief minister back then. If the government fails to do so, the residents warned of boycotting the 2019 general elections.
It has been more than two years since the chemical blast took place in Dombivli's Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) which killed 12 and injured 210 people. The state government has failed to act on the recommendations of inquiry report submitted by the Thane district collector.
The intensity of the blast which took place on May 26, 2016, was such that along with casualties it also destroyed properties of residents in the neighboring area. "When the incident occurred, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had visited the spot and promised compensation from his relief fund to those affected," says Raju Nalavade, secretary of Dombivli Welfare association.
A survey and punchnama were done by the tehsildar which identified 2660 families who were eligible for compensation. The tehsildar recommended an amount of Rs 7.43 crore to the said families and submitted the report to the government.
However, like the inquiry committee report, there has been no news about compensation from the state government. In fact, both the recommendations and compensation of the committee came out when Nalavade filed RTIs relentlessly for a year. In July he was finally provided the report by the director of industrial health services.
Armed with this information, the residents now demand what was rightfully promised to them. "We suffered as they allowed such companies with hazardous chemicals operate so near to the residential area. And we should definitely be paid the compensation," demands Rajesh Ingle, another resident from the area.
As such Dombivli welfare association on behalf of these 2666 families wrote to the chief minister on August 20, to pay the compensation or face the consequences. "If the government fails to pay us the dues then we will boycott the upcoming Lok Sabha and general assembly elections," warns Nalavade.
PEEK INTO PAST
12 have been killed and 210 people have been injured after a blast at an industrial unit in Dombivali township of Thane district on May 26, 2016. The blast took place because of huge stocks of Popargyl chloride that caught fire due to welding sparks.
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