Bombay HC seeks details of rehab plan for textile workers

21 Jan '16

2 min read

The Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra government to give details of the rehabilitation scheme it proposes to introduce for workers of defunct textile mills whose land in prime areas is being allowed for sale and redevelopment, according to an agency report.

The High Court's query came at a hearing of a petition filed by Girni Kamgar Sanghatana, the textile workers union which was once headed by the late Datta Samant.

Most of the textile mills in Mumbai and elsewhere in Maharashtra shut down for various reasons more than two decades ago. The vast tracts of mill land are now valued at a high price because of their prime location. The workers unions have been demanding rehabilitation of workers saying they had lost their livelihood.

The court also directed the state government and its implementing agency Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to file separate affidavits on February 29 giving details of rehabilitation scheme for workers.

While the government has been asked to place on record the proposed rehabilitation scheme of textile workers, if any, MHADA has been directed to furnish information such as how many tenements have been constructed so far and how many textile workers have been allotted houses. The court has also asked for the criteria followed in the allotments.

According to the petition, about 600 acres of mill land in Mumbai is available for redevelopment which may fetch hundreds of crores of rupees to the owners of textile mills. The Girni Kamgar Sanghatana has demanded that workers should be suitably compensated by giving them a small portion of the land to rehabilitate them.

Government pleader J W Mattos sought time to give information on rehabilitation scheme of textile workers. The court posted the matter for next hearing on March 8. (SH)

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