Maruti tells vendors to buy bigger plots in Gujarat

Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) has told its vendors to buy bigger plots in Gujarat amid a tussle between locals and sacked Maruti employees over a workers' rally at Industrial Model Township (IMT) to mark first anniversary of violence that broke out at the Manesar factory July 18 last year.

MSIL has nearly 250 vendors for its Gurgaon and Manesar plants. And nearly 90 percent of component suppliers are located in the 100 km radius of Gurgaon. Sources close to the MSIL said the company has asked its ancillary industries to buy bigger plots in Gujarat.

"Earlier venders had planned to buy plots according to their needs for Gujarat plant but a fortnight ago they were told to buy or arrange bigger plots there," said a source close to MSIL.

Maruti's Gujarat plant is expected to go on stream during 2015-16. The company has taken up a second land parcel a few months ago near the original site at Hansalpur in Ahmedabad district.

"To help logistics, the company has a history to establish critical component vends close to main plants. Company may be considering on that," said a company spokesperson.

On Sunday, more than two dozen surpanches held a "Mahapanchayat" at HSIIDC campus at IMT Manesar. At the meeeting chaired by Shikohpur sarpanch Shyochand, they feared that Maruti may move out of Gurgaon as it had asked vendors to buy bigger plots in Gujarat.

When inquired about this, the Maruti spokesperson said, "Our chairman has cleared at several occasions that Gujarat plant is our expansion, not shifting."

The sarpanches also said they would "tackle with agitating workers at our own level July 18 if district administration remains inactive".

"We will gather at Baba Naram Das temple at Manesar and will act if needed," they said.

Ahead of the first anniversary of the violence at the Maruti plant in Manesar, the district administration has banned protests and rallies near the Delhi-Jaipur National Highway and the Manesar area.

Violence had erupted July 18 last year after a suspended Maruti Udyog worker at the Manesar plant allegedly slapped a supervisor. A senior executive was killed and over 100 people were injured in the arson and violence.

After the incident, the company sacked nearly 2,500 workers. Of them, 147 workers, including union leaders, were jailed and are facing trial.

Workers want their jobs back and a Central Bureau of Investigation inquiry or a probe by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana high Court into the incident.

The plant is now functioning with new staff.

-- Indo-Asian News Service

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