Production is on right track: MD Goyal

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG, Dec 10: After a gap of two years, the state owned Meghalaya Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) plant is back into cement production and is rolling after a revamp that cost Rs 140 crores.

Disclosing this to The Sentinel, the Maging Director of MCCL, Sanjay Goyal said that the process of production is on the right track and it has yielded the desired results.

“The plant is now generating in between 420-430 tons of cement a day which is 70-75 % of the installed capacity,” said Goyal.

He, however, pointed out that the power cuts is the sole reason which has affected the plant in producing cement to its optimum level.

“While power shutdown is a hindrance for maximum production, the use of generators is also not possible due to the huge power intake. The newly installed machineries roughly around 8 megawatts a day,” said Goyal.

With the mushrooming of private cement plants in the state, questions have arises whether the MCCL could compete with the private cement companies who have already create their own market in and outside the state.  Goyal said, “Despite more than two years of hiatus, MCCL brand have already carve a niche in the market.”

“We are offering the same price as sold by the others in the market”, stated the MCCL Maging Director even as he reminded that those who executed the big projects are using MCCL cement due to its quality.”

Admitting that the fact the brand is facing competition from the private companies, the MCCL Chief also stated that they are going to come out with new marketing strategies to counter the challenges.

On the pending salaries of the staffs, Goyal said that the MCCL has released the salaries of the employees and it is slowly clearing the arrears.