Cachar Paper Mill employees urges govt to submit revival plan of defunct mills at NCLT

Sept. 22: 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 21 September, 2020. However, the matter for hearing at NCLT, Delhi on Monday was adjourned. The next date for hearing at NCLT is fixed on 07 October. Earlier, the matter was supposed to come up at NCLT, New Delhi on 14 September, which was then adjourned and re-fixed on  21 September.

On Tuesday, employees of Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram met together and urged upon the government to submit a revival plan for the defunct mills before next hearing date at NCLT, which is on 7th October.

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”.

Expressing his views, Dipak Nath on behalf of the employees said, “We have learnt that the state government has sought 1 month time from the Liquidator. However as the hearing was adjourned twice at NCLT and the next date for hearing is fixed on 7 October. We humbly request the Assam government to submit the revival plans of the two mills and also clear our long pending dues. We hope that the government will live up to its commitment and our Chief Minister will play a pivotal role in consultation with the centre and thereby infuse life in the now defunct paper mills.