Cyclone Michaung: How Chennai’s industrial
Chennai’s industrial landscape is reeling under the devastating effects of Cyclone Michaung. But not everyone has been impacted equally. While over 90 per cent of of large-scale units have already resumed operations, MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) remain submerged in crises, amidst crippling losses and systemic neglect. We explain this tale of two recoveries in Chennai. Ravaging effects of floodwater In the industrial heartland of Manali, the Vichoor SIDCO estate, home to 110 companies predominantly in the chemical and paint industries, stands inundated. As of Thursday (December 7), floodwaters standing at an alarming height of 8 to 10 feet at several points, have submerged whole industrial units which employ hundreds of workers, and amounted to damage of about Rs 160 crores. One of the hardest hit is SM Tower Technologies, owned by SA Shafique, having suffered a loss of a whopping Rs 3 crores. His plant, once bustling with activity, now lies in ruins with the zinc b...