Will revive 2 paper mills if we come to power: Assam Pradesh Congress Committee

GUWAHATI: The APCC (Assam Pradesh Congress Committee) has promised to revive the two Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) mills in Assam if the party makes it to Dispur in the 2021 Assembly election.

APCC president Ripun Bora said in the social media on Sunday that the two profit-making HPC mills – one at Cachar and the other at Jagiroad— turned loss-making due to faulty economic policy followed by the government. "The two HPC mills in Assam engaged thousands of people directly and indirectly. After the BJP coming to power at the Centre in 2014 the two papers mills started making loss following the faulty economic policy adopted by the government. In 2015, the condition of both the mills deteriorated. In the 2016 Assam Assembly election, the BJP did say that after coming to power it would revive the two sick HPC mills. The government also promised to announce an economic package for the revival of the mills. However, the Government led by the party at Dispur hasn't translated that assurance into reality," Bora said.

Bora added, "HPC employees haven't got their salaries for five years during which three employees committed suicide and 70 other employees died of various diseases without proper treatment.

"The Congress staged agitations demanding revival of the two paper mills, both in Dispur and New Delhi. The issue was raised both inside the Parliament and outside it. We did submit memoranda to the Prime Minister and the then Finance Minister Arun Jaithley for the revival of the two mills. They did assure us of revival, but to no avail. Not reviving the two paper mills is an act of injustice, betrayal and discrimination on the part of the government to the people of Assam.

"The two paper mills are inter-related to the economy of the State and the sentiment and fond memory of the people of Assam. If we come to power in 2021, we'll take positive steps for the revival of the two paper mills."

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