Dreams in Ruins: Impact of HYDRAA Demolitions on Local Businesses, Workers

Fifty-year-old business owner invested heavily in plastic granules and worked hard to establish a company after purchasing land.

Dreams were shattered when officials from a local authority, along with various HYDRAA officials, arrived with heavy machinery and demolished the sheds that had been built.

The owner expressed frustration at having paid power bills and taxes for years, lamenting the lack of prior notice or survey before the demolition.

Together with a family member, they sifted through the rubble to salvage machinery, highlighting the financial burden of starting over.

The situation felt like a heavy penalty, suggesting that jail time would have been preferable to losing the business.

Many nearby businesses faced similar demolitions, with structures deemed illegal.

Some former owners questioned the motives behind the actions, wondering if it was related to alleged encroachments or political retribution.

Others in the entertainment industry reported significant losses when their leased spaces were destroyed, leaving them to ponder what wrong they had committed.

Migrant workers were also severely affected. One worker described the fear felt as police cordoned off the area before the bulldozers moved in.

The shed had provided shelter and income. Approximately 250 women earned between Rs. 250 and Rs. 350 per day in nearby factories, but many families returned to their homes after the demolitions.

Workers expressed disappointment at the lack of government support, even for basic meals.

As they salvaged materials from the debris, it became clear that the situation was dire, leaving many to fend for themselves.