Conspiracy to sell off paper mills alleged

Special Correspondent

Silchar: Agitation in various forms by the Hindustan Paper Corporation Mills Revival Action Committee (HPCMRAC) has on and off hit the print and electronic media for its reopening ever since both the plants were shut down. But, having realized and understood that behind the façade of assurances by the Centre and the State of Assam, there is now a conspiracy brewing up to sell the paper plants at Panchgram in Cachar and Jagiroad in Nagaon. Manobendra Chakraborty, chief convener of HPCMRAC, has blamed the Prime Minister for ignoring his own assurances for revival which he made on March 27, 2016.

Chakraborty expressed his dismay and surprise at the fact how the Prime Minister of a country could backtrack on his own commitment of the day to bring about industrialization of Assam by reviving the mills and creating employment opportunities for lakhs of unemployed youths and others. After coming to power, the NDA has taken the most drastic decision to close down the mills and to hand them over to private owners. Deprived of salaries for the last 25 months, Manobendra Chakraborty said 49 employees have been forced to die due to starvation. Neither the Prime Minister nor the Chief Minister of Assam has shown minimum human gesture towards the bereaved families.

Deepak Chandra Nath, convener, said against the backdrop of uneasy situation prevailing in the state over the issue of Citizenship Bill, a move is on to sell off the assets, properties and costly machinery to private parties. Behind it, as he said, there is systematic plan to paralyze the economic structure and infrastructure of the country just for the sake of some vested interests. He also alleged complicity of some middlemen in this conspiracy. He asked why those are now vociferous in demanding high level probe into the affairs of the paper mills have been silent for the last 5 years.

Deepak Chandra Nath said it is inexplicable why Cachar Paper Mill with 100 crore worth raw materials should shut its production. It is a travesty of fact that in order to meet the demand of paper, the country has to import from overseas. He came out with the resentment when the people of Barak and Brahmaputra valleys joined hands together to revive the mills, the Centre not only backed out of its commitment but also played with their sentiments and feelings. It has also been alleged by the leaders of the HPCMRAC that along with the shut down paper mills, both the Centre and the state are now planning to sell off the potential oil fields to private parties.

Ajijur Rahman Mazumder, also a convener, spoke about the brazen indifferent attitude of the Centre towards Assam for revival of the mills whereas for the reopening of Nepa Paper Mill in Madhya Pradesh, an allocation of Rs.469 crore has been made. Not only have that for the modernization of Gujarat textiles, a sum of Rs.5000 crore and for industrial development of Uttar Pradesh Rs. 60,000 crore been earmarked. But, for the employees of paper mills who are spending their days along with their families in serious economic distress, there is no sympathy or concern, he pointed out. These grievances were aired by the leaders of the HPCMRAC at a press-meet here today.

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