'Revive Cachar paper mill or plan industrialization of Panchgram' Says Himanta Biswa Sarma
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: It has been a welcome move of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to pay the arrear dues of employees of Cachar Paper Mill in distress. Barak Democratic Front chief convener, Pradip Dutta Roy, in a statement said, "We do appreciate it, but at the same time demand drawing up of alternate blue-print for setting up viable industry at the site of CPM at Panchgram." According to information, the Chief Minister is planning to hold a parley with the employees to discuss the issue.
The unfortunate part of the situation is that in the meantime employees have been asked to vacate their premises through notice. Where will these helpless employees go, asked Dutta Roy. He said the entire process of arrear payments to them should be fair so that they do not get deprived in any way. The question of their quitting their quarters till their all dues are clear does not arise. A welfare state is not expected to take any retrograde measure, he added to say.
BDF leader reminded behind the setting up of paper mill by the Centre, the main objective has been to boost up the economic development of a backward region and create job avenues in direct and indirect way. It did create jobs but due to gross mismanagement the mill faced closure and put the fate of employees at stake. He suggested with the investment of Rs 1000 crore, both the mills, another at Nagaon could be revived.
Dutta Roy said by utilising the natural resources like bamboos and sugar cane grown in abundance in the valley, steps can be taken to establish 'Ethanol Plant' at the abandoned land of paper mill at Panchgram. Ethanol is an important industrial chemical. It is also used as intoxicating ingredient of many alcoholic beverages. The abandoned land of Cachar Sugar Mill can also be utilised for that purpose. His plea before the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister is to give serious thought to the proposal of BDF.
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