Maruti Suzuki's Manesar plant all set to turn on the ignition

Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker, has decided to lift the self-imposed lockout at its violence-hit Manesar factory on August 21.

The factory, which has remained locked since July 18 following violence and arson on its premises, would reopen amid heavy security provided by the Haryana police and the company.

"We plan to lift the lockout from August 21 and resume production at Manesar. All the repair work at the factory is complete. The company would restart production in phases, after beefing up the security," Maruti Suzuki chairman R.C. Bhargava told reporters on Thursday.



Maruti Suzuki is also sacking 500 employees who are believed to be involved in the violence against the company's management, leading to the death of its general manager Awanish Kumar Dev.

Bharagava said: "Of the 1,500-odd regular workers, we have issued notices to 500-odd so far dispensing with their services."

Special Public Prosecutor KTS Tulsi, appointed by Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, said: "Now that all the main perpetrators of the crime are in custody, the chargesheet should be ready in a week's time. I am then going to ask the high court to assign a judge for a fast-track trial on a daily basis to bring these culprits to book."

Tulsi has taken a hard line on the events of July 18.

"The intention (of workers) was to kill not just one person. They conspired to kill the entire management that evening. It was planned and premeditated as they lit a fire, blocked the exits from both ends and indulged in merciless beating of the employees. What the smart DCP (deputy commissioner of police) prevented actually was a much bigger tragedy. I will try and ensure that all the culprits who indulged in this senseless violence are punished," he said.

Jia Lal, the prime accused whose assault on supervisor Sangram Singh triggered the mob violence at the plant, was produced in Gurgaon civil court on Thursday. He was remanded to five days in police custody.

Before the arson, the plant employed about 3,000 workers, of which about 1,600 were permanent employees. Besides them, about 700 managerial people were also working at the plant.

Bhargava said workers' safety will remain the highest priority and the company, with the help of the Haryana government, has taken several steps to ensure that.

CM Hooda has assured all security measures for the workers.

"We stand by the promise to resolve the problem permanently and we will ensure that we reach the bottom of the issue... We cannot allow anybody to disrupt the law and order situation in Gurgaon-Manesar," he said.

Haryana's industry minister Randeep Surjewala said the government would ensure security of life and property at Maruti's plant.

"The government would not allow anyone to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere in the state," he said.

The minister said the special investigation team would soon conclude its investigation in the Maruti violence and the state government would take strict action against those involved in the arson.

Maruti said around 500 armed Rapid Action Force personnel would monitor the area of which around 200 would be deployed on the Manesar factory campus.

The securitymen would also ensure safe travelling of the Maruti employees between home and factory.

Maruti Suzuki will separately employ 100 security guards, a majority of whom would be exservicemen. They would be stationed in the actual work area on the campus.

"With such a strong security presence, it is unlikely that anyone would resort to any violence at the plant," Bhargava said.

The security arrangement at the unit will remain in place till the inquiry is complete and all the accused are arrested. "If we err, it has to be erring on the side of caution. We cannot take a risk again," Bhargava said.

The Manesar plant, which has an annual capacity of 5.5 lakh units, used to roll out the company's popular models - Swift, entry-level sedan DZiRE, SX4 and A-Star. On an average, it produced 1,700 cars per day.

Sharekhan auto analyst Deepak Jain estimated the company would be able to produce 300 cars daily in two weeks and about 500 per day in a month's time.

"Maruti has always managed to surprise the market with the way it has managed to bounce back from several strikes and ramp-up production," he said.

According to Bhargava, the company plans to make its entire temporary staff permanent and in future it will do away with contract labour. Even if they hire any contract labour, it would be via direct recruitment by the company's human resource department and not through any placement agency.

Meanwhile, the company's top boss Osamu Suzuki will visit India for a week to take stock of the situation and attend the annual general meeting on August 28. He will also visit Gujarat to finalise the site for the company's upcoming factory.

STATUS OF THE INJURED
Most of the Maruti employees injured in the July 18 violence have been discharged from hospital. Some of those who got away with relatively minor injuries are expected to join duty shortly.

However, around 30 employees, who suffered compound fractures in their legs and arms, are expected to take much longer to recover.

With inputs from Mail Today