NEW DELHI: Yellow fumes from a chimney mingle with black smoke from another, creating a vicious shade of brown. Labourers covered with sweat and grime busily move to and fro, deftly avoiding the dirt and filth scattered all around. But occasionally they bump into materials dumped outside some factories blocking the pathway, getting minor bruises and scratches—all in a day's work.

This is Wazirpur Industrial Area, home to about 4,000 units many of which deal in steel. Nonetheless, for most of the Wazirpur industrial units, business is on the rise; only the associated problems are rising faster.

"Hell on earth," is how Sultan Ahmad, manager of Sunrise Chemicals, a unit producing steel utensils, describes the place. "There is noise pollution, water pollution as well as air pollution. The roads are dirty and slimy; jhuggis add to the filth. What else could be wrong?" he asks. It is amazing that customers come at all. Probably, it's Ahmad's business acumen. But a disconcerted Ahmad is in no mood to talk about his business. "It is not facing a disaster and you can't thank the authorities for it.''

Manjeet Bajaj, proprietor of Ceat Industrial House, is not a person who shirks off responsibility. "The jhuggis are a nuisance all right but they are there because of us." Bajaj says that as long as the labourers stay in the jhuggis the factory owners are assured of a steady supply of cheap labour. "Everybody complains but nobody is prepared to take any action."

Bajaj, whose unit manufactures metal labels, says though competition is increasing demand too is going up with the growth in the use of machinery and equipment. He is confident of a bright future because industries will keep multiplying.

"The pathetic condition of this place at times drives me to tears," confesses Manjeet Singh, proprietor of Arora Industrial Corporation, a unit manufacturing motor parts. Singh feels that the most dangerous is the collection of acid oil, which is used to wash steel sheets, in the numerous drains in the area."If somebody slips into the drains he might also get burnt."

Acidic drain water touches boundary walls of almost all the factories. Many walls have started cracking; some have even collapsed. "I have spent Rs 10,000 from my own pocket to clear the drain running by my factory," claims Singh. Though the infrastructure provided by the authorities is in a pathetic shape almost non-existent, it has not affected business. "The demand for motor parts can never be slack," he says.

Jagmohan, manager of Gandhi Store, a unit manufacturing nickel plates, is extremely wary of the roads in Wazirpur. "Unsuspecting scooterists can easily fall into these holes and break their bones. This happens often."

Jagmohan says business is increasing because of a conscious effort on their part to improve their services. "Because we provide prompt service our customers are also increasing," he adds.

Surinder Aggarwal, proprietor of Jagriti Plastics Private Limited, a firm trading in steel utensils, says that lately people have stopped preferring steel utensils, making entry of newcomers difficult. "But, we have captured our individual markets and business will keep coming from there."

Aggarwal feels that Wazirpur's condition is beyond redemption. "People have grown so used to the unhealthy surroundings that many have even stopped noticing it," remarks Aggarwal. But Lakhwinder Singh, proprietor of Apex International, a piston ring export unit does notice the mess. And so do his customers. "The roads are so dirty and blocked with materials pouring out of the steel factories, that my customers hesitate to visit this place," he says. More enterprising then the rest, Singh, who is anticipating and working towards a major boom in his business, is planning to move out lock, stock and barrel. "I will move to NOIDA as soon as I can. I cannot bear to continue like this any more."

Ram Vilas Gupta, President of the Wazirpur Small Industry Welfare Association, says the basic raw material for most of the units -- steel sheets -- lie outside the factories because they are bulky and have to be kept there while loading and unloading. "I cannot do anything about it."

Gupta says there are more serious problems like encroachment on the drains by people, who have been putting up small shops and merrily making money catering to the `chai, paan, bidi' requirements of workers. "The High Court has passed a decree ordering their removal but the MCD is yet to take any action." "As far as hygiene and sanitation is concerned, I have given up hope there, remarks Gupta. Innumerable visits from innumerable officials has achieved nothing."

"But water pollution is an issue which I think will be tackled," Gupta says. The association has been able to convince the Pollution Department about the impending doom. The Wazirpur Industrial Area has been allotted three acres of land for the construction of a Common Water Treatment Plant. A loan from the Industrial Development Bank of India has been applied for and hopefully would be sanctioned soon.

"Once the plant is constructed, it will remove the acid and other chemical content from the water, making it suitable for re-use," says Gupta. But it may take two years.

Hemant Jindal, proprietor of Jindal Oil and Chemical Company, a firm trading in stainless steel and chemicals, feels that Gupta is being a bit too optimistic. "It takes such a long time to get a loan sanctioned and work started. We will be lucky if the plant starts functioning in four years," he says. And meantime, what will they do? "Why, continue as before. After all the show must go on," says Jindal.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.