Rains losses spiral at Nashik's MIDC units

The heavy rains that lashed the city for five consecutive days last week have taken a toll on the industries based in the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) areas.

Production was affected as components were not available due to heavy rains. Around 18 industrial units in the Ambad MIDC area suffered losses to the tune of several crores.

The daily production at the Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) facility in Satpur MIDC area decreased by nearly 100 units a day for four consecutive days owing to non-availability of components from their vendors. The company lost around Rs 25 crore.

"The industrial units, including Nashik Machine Tools, Sankalpa industries, RKH Tools Devyani Enterprises, Vintex Pharma, Dixit Industries, Muktosh Engineering Works, Shri Engineering, Hira Enterprises, Sonal Electronics, Panoma Surgicals, Niramay Pharma and S E Enterprises, in Ambad MIDC area were affected badly owing to water logging. This has caused damage to raw materials and machineries. The 18 units, including 10 from 'W' & 'C' sections and 8 units from 'L' section were submerged three-four feet," said Dhananjay Bele, president, Ambad Industries and Manufacturers' Association (AIMA).

"As there is no drainage in the Ambad area, water-logging damaged machinery and other infrastructure at many units. Industrialists face such situations every year during monsoon. Earlier, there was a natural canal passing through 'W', 'C' and 'L' sections. But, MIDC levelled half of the canal, which were later converted into plots and sold. Neither Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) nor Midc has taken measures to create an effective drainage system here," said Bele.