Paper Mill workers appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for revival

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram in Hailakandi district and the Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad in Morigaon district have been non-functional since October 2015 and March 2017 respectively. The employees have not received their salaries for 38 and 36 months respectively.

In this regard the Cachar Paper Project Workers' Union (CPPWU) wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Finance Minister Nirmamala Sitharaman, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and State Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Tuesday.

The union appealed to the PM to take initiatives to revive local and indigenous industries to overcome the 'Economic Disaster' that has emerged due to COVID-19 pandemic.

In the letter, the union stated that two Heavy Industries under Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) of Assam is non-functional whereas India is importing papers from countries like China, South Korea to meet huge domestic requirement at the cost of Forex reserve.

"HPC has owned huge High Priced Land of around 2,000 acres, well established brand name and market chains with sustainable stabilities. The industries provide two lakh employments and infuse tremendous boosting in rural economy through Bamboo Cultivation, Harvesting and supply systems," wrote CPPWU president Manobendra Chakr-aborty.

Further, the letter stated, "From last two years or more its fate is locked under unrealistic and impractical procedure of IBC-2016. Only for Rs 98 lakh claims of a vendor as a result having inbuild potentials and huge assets values, the industries remain non functional causing serious impacts not only in employment front but economic destruction as well. Moreover, it cannot be ruled out that attempts are on to sale out the huge assets at throwaway price which would be a national loss in all terms."

The union said that these national industries has tremendous potential to boost economic growth, employment generation, and may reduce import of papers at the cost of forex reserve. 

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