Bhiwandi to be developed as logistics and godown hub: Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today said that the MMRDA has prepared a development plan to make the powerloom town of Bhiwandi in neighbouring Thane district a logistics and godown hub.
Intervening in a discussion on the death of eight labourers in a fire incident at a scrap godown in Bhiwandi in December last year, Fadnavis said in the state Assembly that 2,200 hectares of land has been earmarked for the development plan.
"Bhiwandi will be developed as a logistics and godown hub. Out of the 2,200 hectares, 400 to 500 hectares will be for the logistics and godown hub," he said.

Fadnavis said the existing godowns would be regularised.
The godowns which cannot be regularised after relaxing norms will have to be demolished, he said.
The government would look into the issue of illegal Bangladeshi migrants, even though no specific complaint has been received, the Chief Minister said.

Earlier, on the issue of the death of labourers in a Bhiwandi godown, Minister of State for Home Ranjit Patil said out of the eight deceased, seven were from Nepal and were not eligible for compensation.
However, correspondence has been initiated with the Uttar Pradesh government for deciding the heirs of the deceased so that compensation can be given, he said.

Eight people were killed and three injured in a blaze at the godown in Rahnal village of Bhiwandi in December 2014.
Patil said the godown was illegal and cases have been filed against the concerned persons.
Earlier, the Lower House had to be adjourned once for 15 minutes as the Opposition demanded that a discussion be taken up on unseasonal rains and crop loss by suspending the Question Hour.
However, the demand was rejected as the Chief minister said that the issue can be discussed after the Question Hour.
The Opposition members then staged a walkout in protest.