On Wednesday, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) submitted an affividavit before the Bombay High Court regarding Dow India’s intention to give up the land.

Sarpanch of Shinde village Bapu Temghare said it is a victory for the villagers who had put up a stiff agitation for the last three years. “I have been arrested several times and have also spent 14 days in the lock up during our agitation. Finally we have scored a victory,” said Temghare. Lokayat members Neeraj Jain and Alka Joshi, who have led several protest campaigns in the village and in the city, said that since the company is associated with the Bhopal gas tragedy it should not be allowed to have any operations in the country.

Dow had sent a letter to MIDC stating that they want step back from the project in Pune. “Due to continuing safety and security concerns driven by unlawful agitation at the greenfield development site in the MIDC area phase 2, Chakan, the company has determined the location to be untenable for the establishment of its new science and technology research and development (R&D) facility and has submitted an application to return the land to MIDC,” Dow India said in a statement.

“We already have proposals from foreign investors. We will assess each and decide on the allotment,” Industries Secretary Aziz Khan said on Wednesday adding, “Bridgestone, the Tokyo-based company, has invested in Chakan and there are many big names ready to come to Chakan and Talegaon areas.”