Manesar, Aug 6 (KNN)  Conceived almost two decades ago to bring more entrepreneurs to the city, the 4000 acre industrial model township here today is an infrastructural mess with poor civic amenities.

“It was supposed to be a model township, laid out beautifully.  But with regard to infrastructure, connectivity, logistics, labour and support from the government, it is in a pathetic condition,” said General Secretary, Manesar Industries Welfare Association (MIWA), Manmohan Gaind.

“It is impossible to run an industry there.  Today the condition is such that of the 2200 industries, only 500 hundred are functional,” he added.

All the investment that went into building the township which is surrounded by beautiful fields, according to him could have produced something economically viable.  Rather, it is a concrete jungle where nothing is produced and nobody gets a job.  The situation, he said, needs urgent address.

While a few automobile giants such as Maruti and Hondo are currently operational, most of the plots have been taken by small and medium-scale units dealing in auto parts, garments and IT services. However, according to a study, only 40 per cent of the small and medium units are functional now.

In addition, the township said a media report is haunted by frequent power outages, lack of basic amenities and entry of land sharks which keep businesses away.  
 
It was taken over by the Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC) in 1997 to be developed exclusively as an industrial area.  It was supposed to be a one of its kind in the country and was conceived to provide services and facilities that would place the state on a global map of industrial competitiveness.

Significantly, it was designed to have all basic infrastructures to facilitate industrialisation of the area to include hi-tech Telecommunication, 220KV Substation, water supply, sewerage disposal, helipad, shopping arcades, health centres, schools, wide metallic roads, golf course and clubs. 

Sadly, during the past few years IMT Manesar has turned a hotbed for land speculators and property dealers over the years, owing to its prime location on NH-8.  However, big players have managed to monopolise real estate there, crushing the chances of small-time entrepreneurs.

Although Manesar boasts of a labour population of close to 40,000 it has little infrastructure to provide for these workers.   Other problems include poor sewage system, lack of rainwater drains.

Manesar is a fast growing industrial town in Gurgaon, Haryana, and a part of the National Capital Region (NCR).  Having been transformed from a suburban village to one of the fastest growing townships in India, its proximity to Delhi and barely 32 kms from the IGI Airport is its strength. 
 
That’s one of the reasons why the Centre has established institutes of national importance such as National Security Guards and its training centre, National Bomb Data Centre and National Brain Research Centre.
 
The Gurgaon Manesar Master Plan has estimated that the population by 2021 would grow to 37 lakhs.  The town is home to many factories, offices, hotels and educational institutions with urban infrastructure to support them.  Each day scores of people travel there from neighbouring places to work.

MIWA was set up with the goal of fighting environmental justice issues that affect Manesar.  It also works towards sustainable development of the industry.  It was involved with the fertile land protection movement which put forth a citizen's report that was filed against the Indian Supreme Court in 2011.

The association works in tandem with other associations to ensure that environmental justice issues in this area are given emphasis by the government as well as by other important entities. 

MIWA also partners with HSIIDC on matters of security and management.  (KNN/ES)

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