DIMAPUR, DECEMBER 18 (MExN): Public of Tuli area under Mokokchung district affected by the defunct Tuli Paper Mill or Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company Limited (NPPC) has demanded an inquiry/investigation by a competent central investigating agency on the neglect, mismanagement and misuse of the funds relating to revival and rehabilitation of NPPC Ltd.
In a representation addressed to the Secretary, Government of India (GoI), Ministry of Heavy Industry & Public Enterprise, Department of Heavy Industry and other concerned authorities, social activist I Chubatangit Jamir who have been entrusted by NGOs/civil societies of Tuli area to pursue the matter, regretted that despite funds in terms of hundreds of cores being made available, the same has not been properly utilized and the successful functioning of the NPPC Ltd remains a distant dream.
Listing out details of the fund already sanctioned, the representation revealed that on September 17, 2007 a letter addressed to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Heavy Industries directed for release Rs 54.60 crore for revival and upgradation of NPPC Ltd.
On August 11, 2009, a letter written by the Deputy Manager (HR & ES) Public Information Officer, HPC Ltd stated that actual expenditure incurred from July 1, 2007 to April 30, 2009 by NPPC Ltd under various heads of sanctioned scheme was Rs 3675.56 lakh. In a letter dated July 2, 2013, the Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, GoI, Department of Heavy Industries had accorded approval of Rs 1311.88 crore for revival of NPPC Ltd.
Another letter dated September 18, 2013 addressed to the Pay & Accounts Officer, Department of Heavy Industries, New Delhi had directed for release of Rs 100 crore to HPC Ltd for implementation of part revival plan of NPPC Ltd. The representation lamented that out of the money that has so far been sanctioned, no tangible work has been done so far to uplift the sorry state of affairs of NPPC Ltd and the same remains a sick industry as declared by the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction.
Besides the funds not been utilized in a transparent manner, the representation also alleged that huge amount of money meant for NPPC Ltd have been diverted by the Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd (HPC) to cover expenditure not related to NPPC Ltd.
It went on to state that huge monopoly exists with regard to the utilization of funds by HPC Ltd as the Managing Director, NPPC Ltd who is also an officer appointed by HPC Ltd. There is little transparence in the manner in which the funds are being utilized giving huge chance for misappropriation of public money, the representation noted. It also pointed out that due to stoppage of its production, the workers of NPPC Ltd are facing untold hardship and terminal benefits are not being paid, dispersal of salary has been affected and the work has stopped.
While highlighting the above, the representation has requested the concerned that the funds sanctioned be made available for revival of NPPC Ltd and revival package implanted in the right earnest.
Maintaining that the NPPC Ltd being the only company in Nagaland, the success of this project in an industry starved state like Nagaland would open avenues for other ancillary activities that would economically benefit the local people.
Further, the revival of NPPC Ltd will not only uplift the economy of the local area but also generate indirect employment for the local populace, the representation stated.
.JPG)
