Joint Action Committee of Recognised Unions Moves Assam CM to Save HPC Mills from Auction

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Save Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mills: The Joint Action Committee of Recognised Unions (JACRU) Nagaon & Cachar Paper Mills, Assam has demanded the Chief Minister's intervention to save both the paper mills from the auction.

The e-auction sale notice for both the paper mills was issued by Liquidator Kuldeep Verma on June 1 with a reserve price of Rs 1,139 crore. In this view, the JACRU submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister appealing to him to save the paper mills and suggesting that the government should take over the mills.

The JACRU has also demanded to release all legal dues of workers including VRS as applied as per settled provisions of DPE (Department of Public Enterprises) Guidelines of Government of India. It urged the CM to ensure the employment of workers as per the order of the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT).

"The Government of Kerala already took over Hindustan News Print Ltd a subsidiary unit of HPC (Hindustan Paper Corporation) and the Government of Assam is also duty-bound to protect industries to honour their commitments towards citizens of Assam," the JACRUS said.

The JACRU pointed out that earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a rally, committed that both the Nagaon and Cachar Paper Mills would be revived to make India 'Atmanirbhar'.

"Madhya Pradesh (MP) CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan convinced the Prime Minister to avail Rs 459 crore revival package for revival of NEPA Paper Mills of MP. Similarly, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan purchased HNL, a subsidiary of HPC, for employments and industrial growth of Kerala. Hence, there are no reasons that Assam shows its inability and remain undeveloped, industrially backwards continuing with the unemployment crisis," the memorandum read.

The body asserted that the State government expressed interest in taking over the HPC at NCLT through liquidator vides petition dated September 10 and September 29, 2020.

"It is a golden opportunity for the Assam government to bring industrial revolution in the State for ensuring economic growth with the revival of the HPC paper mills. The government can arrest any more unfortunate deaths as to date 87 people have died after not being able to afford better health treatment. Moreover, four have committed suicide as of now," the JACRU added.

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