Pune's HA Colony looks to civic body for aid

PIMPRI CHINCHWAD: The poor financial condition of Hindustan Antibiotics Limited (HAL) in Pimpri has had an impact on the maintenance of HA Colony, located bang opposite the factory.
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has to decide if it can provide civic amenities to the colony.
The 1,000 and odd employees have not received their salaries for the past 18 months.The colony is spread over 40 acres of prime land. Once a posh area with tarred roads, streetlights and good water supply, the colony with over 600 families now boasts of no such facility.
The PCMC standing committee on Tuesday approved a proposal asking the PCMC to consider if amenities like tarred roads and streetlights can be provided.
Corporator Amina Pansare wrote a letter to municipal commissioner Rajeev Jadhav, asking for Rs 1.5 crore for the purpose. She said the HAL will refund the amount later.
The development works include repairs to water pipelines, tarring of roads, repairs to streetlights, gardens and other works.
Sunil Pataskar, general secretary of Hindustan Antibiotics Mazdoor Sangh (HAMS), said, “The Maharashtra Industries Development Corporation (MIDC) had given notice to the company that water supply will be reduced in view of the drought situation in the state. The drinking water supply to HA colony will be affected. More than 50 years old drainage pipelines in the colony have rusted. The lines get choked during rainy season.”
A meeting was held with local corporators including Pansare, Sadguru Kadam and nominated corporator Arun Borhade alongwith former corporator Mohammad Pansare earlier this month about the problems of HA Colony.
A senior HAL official said the company cannot spend money on repairs and maintenance due to its financial problems. Instead it has sought assistance from the PCMC.
Sanjay Bhosale, a resident of the colony, said, “The storm water drainage lines have become old and choke up during the rains as a result the drainage enters the houses.” Rajesh Mandlik, another resident said, “The internal roads are not tarred so they become slushy in rainy season making it difficult for people to travel.”
Outgoing municipal commissioner Rajeev Jadhav said, “We will scrutinize the proposal of the standing committee members and take action on it.”
HAL was the first major company to set up its plant in Pimpri in 1954 which started the industrialisation in Pimpri and surrounding villages in Pune district and led to the birth of the industrial city of Pimpri Chinchwad.
The once profitable HAL turned sick in the 1990s. Since then the employees are facing an uncertain future.
Employees of HAL have been fighting a prolonged battle with successive Union governments for improving the financial condition of the once prosperous industrial unit. Despite repeated assurances, no government has, so far, been able to provide the revenue required to bring the sick company back to life.