Mohammad bin Ismail | Clarion India
NEW DELHI — A massive anti-encroachment drive by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in Pune’s Maharashtra has left the bustling business hubs of Chikhli, Kudalwadi, Jadhuwadi, Hargode Vasti, and Pawar Vasti in ruins. Since February 8, bulldozers have razed over 5,000 shops, warehouses, and small businesses, disrupting a supply chain critical to Maharashtra’s automobile and scrap industries. The demolition has sparked widespread outrage, with allegations of targeted action against small business owners, particularly from the Muslim community.
The demolition has hit Kudalwadi particularly hard, where an estimated Rs 1,000 crore business ecosystem has been upended. The area, known for supplying spare parts to the automobile industry, now lies in shambles. Local shopkeepers, many of whom are from the Muslim community, claim they were given no prior warning before their livelihoods were destroyed.
“We have been running our businesses here for 30 to 40 years. No one ever told us this could happen,” said Mohammed Salman, a scrap dealer whose shop was reduced to rubble. “This feels like an earthquake has hit us. Everything is gone.”
The operation has not only disrupted businesses but also raised fears of widespread unemployment. According to reports, at least one lakh people could lose their jobs as a result of the demolitions. The ripple effect is being felt across Maharashtra, with the supply of raw materials to small industries grinding to a halt.
The PCMC’s actions have sparked allegations of ulterior motives. Locals claim that land prices in the 1,000-acre area of Chikhli and Kudalwadi have skyrocketed, with builders allegedly offering double the market rate to acquire the land. The demolished shops were located on land owned by local villagers, who had rented the space to businessmen.
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