MP Rajdeep Roy urges PM Modi in Parliament to revive defunct paper mills in PPP model

Sept. 22: Silchar MP Dr. Rajdeep Roy raised the issue of the now defunct HPC Mills at Nagaon & Panchgram in the floor of the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. Speaking during the ‘Matters of Urgent Public Importance’, Dr. Roy said that it was the electoral promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party to revive the two defunct paper mills of Assam. He reminded his government to keep the promise made to the electorate and infuse life in these two mills of the state.

BJP MP Rajdeep Roy in his 1.49 minutes speech in the Parliament addressed Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and said, “The production in the two paper mills in Assam have been shut down since last few years. As a result, more than 4000 mill employees are now devoid of their salary and other emoluments. Moreover, more than a lakh bamboo cultivators were also depended on these two mills. But today they are devoid of work. As it was our poll promise to revive the two mills at any cost, so I would request our beloved Prime Minister Modiji and the Minister of Heavy Industries to take this issue in its truest stride.”

Drawing attention of the Speaker, Dr. Roy put forth two-point suggestions to the government. He said, “The salaries, Provident Fund, gratuity etc. are pending since long. If this amount is disbursed to them even in two or three installments, then it will be of great help for these employees. Secondly, I would request our government to revive the 2 paper mills by either by handing it over to a private party or through Private Public Partnership (PPP) model. But at any cost, I would request our beloved Prime Minister to revive the mills. If the mills are reevived, then the people of Assam will shower blessing to our government from their hearts.”

Taking a dig at the Congress without naming it, Dr. Rajdeep Roy said, “Those persons who ruined the mills by taking commission have now taken to the streets and are pointing fingers at our government for closing down the mills. As such, I would urge upon our respected Prime Minister through you to resolve this issue.”

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.

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”.

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.