Congress MP Ripun Bora raises issue of revival of paper mills in Parliament

Sept. 15: Cachar Paper Mill and Nagaon Paper Mill run by Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPCL) have been non-functional since 20 October 2015 and 13 March 2017 respectively. The employees of the two mills have not received salaries for the past 45 and 43 months. Apart from the employees, around two lakh people, who are directly or indirectly engaged in activities of the paper mills, have also been hit hard. Even the bamboo farmers who were dependent on the two mills have also been affected The paper mill at Jagiroad is in a plot of 570 acres, while the Cachar mill has an area of 1,200 acres. In the absence of salary, 71 employees of the two mills have died since its closure including 3 suicides. This was said by Congress MP Ripun Bora in the Parliament on Tuesday.

During the ongoing monsoon session, Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora demanded immediate revival of the Nagaon Papermill and Cachar Mill, which are under Hindustan Paper Corporation. He urged the Centre to immediately revive the two paper mills in Assam in keeping with the multiple assurance given by the government. Bora expressed surprise at the fact that the two paper mills located at Jagiroad and Panchgram were shut down inspite of earning profits.

The fate of the two defunct HPC paper mills of Assam (Nagaon & Panchgram) was supposed to be decided at National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) on 14 September, 2020. However, the matter did not reach for hearing at NCLT, Delhi on Monday and it was adjourned. The next date for hearing at NCLT is fixed on 21 September.

It needs mention here that the Industry and Commerce department of government of Assam on 10 September wrote to Kuldeep Verma, Liquidator of HPCL seeking one month time for revival of the defunct HPC paper mills as the “state government is making sincere efforts and pursuing the matter with the central government for revival of the closed mills and clearance of all dues of employees and workers”.

Manobendra Chakraborty, trade union leader lauded the stand of Assam Government who have sought one months time from NCLT for resolving the crisis of the 2 HPC Mills in Assam. He was, however, quick to add, “We hope that the assurance given by the state government won’t be broken as they have done in the past.”