Paper mills' body welcomes Nitin Gadkari's comments

GUWAHATI: The Joint Action Committee of Recognised Unions (JACRU) of the Nagaon & Cachar Paper Mills has welcomed comments made recently in Parliament by Union Minister of Road & Transport & National Highway Nitin Gadkari in connection with the condition of the paper industries of India.

A press release issued by JACRU general secretary Ananda Bordoloi and president Manobendra Chakraborty stated that Gadkari told Parliament that it gives him pain every morning when he reads newspapers printed on paper imported from other countries.

The JACRU leaders stated that Gadkari informed Parliament that pulp and pulp products worth Rs 40,000 crore and finished paper worth another Rs 40,000 crore are being imported into India, over and above pulp woods of around Rs 20,000-25,000 crore being imported to produce paper in our country. All the while, India' own paper industries are being forced to shut down/close.

The JACRU press release said that Gadkari also informed the House that ex-Union Minister Mohan Dharia has earlier submitted a proposal with detailed harvesting policy to the Government of India as to how using wasteland India can cultivate pulpwood to produce paper to become self-reliance in paper production. However, nothing could be done and India is still procuring pulp woods and paper from foreign countries to meet domestic requirement.

Referring to suspension of operations of the two paper mills of Assam, the press release said that JACRU proclaims absolute solidarity with Nitin Gadkari.

It further stated: "The Government in Centre is adopting double standard on myths of Athmanirvar Bharat and on the contrary the activities upholding foreign industries at the cost of own national industries and economic development of India, more so, withholding salary of the workers since last 61 months...

"The Government should honour its promises to revive the paper industries of Assam to respect the ethics of Athmanirvar Bharat which will bring back economic and employment growth from its ruined stage or the people of Assam will award befitting reply in near future."

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