DIPR
Dimapur, February 10
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] ray of hope for the much-awaited revival of Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company Limited in Tuli under Mokokchung district seems to be gaining momentum. Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprise Anand G Geete has assured the company that the factory would soon ‘see the light’ for which a plan of action for the revival currently underway.The union minister’s assurance came during his visit to the NPPC on February 10. Briefing media persons at the end of his inspection of the plant and a closed-door meeting with the top officials of the factory, Anand said that the ‘entire revival work’ will be carried out in two phases.
He said that the works during phase-one would be completed by November 2016 for which the government has allocated Rs. 489 crore and another Rs. 190 crore would be allocated to take up works in the second phase.
The minister also said that the Nagaland government has to contribute Rs. 23 crore as the state’s share. The mill has to be run on the basis of 95% by the centre and 5% by the state government financial sharing, he said.
Geete said further that a meeting with state government officials will be conducted in New Delhi in the second week of March 2015 to have ‘in-depth discussions for the revival works in the plant.’ According to him, ‘active cooperation of the state government and the people of the plant are prerequisite to put the NPPC on right track.’
Referring to employment in the plant, the union minister said that an ‘immediate requirement’ of 600 posts would be sanctioned and about 750 more would be employed later on. Talking about the job opportunities for the local people, Geete said slots for unskilled workers would be given only to the locals while they will also be given preference in the skilled-workers’ category.
The union minister has assured to ‘keep on visiting the NPCC after every six months to oversee the revival works in the plant.’
During his visit, Geete laid the foundation stone for a 8.5 MW power plant complex for the NPPC at the cost of Rs. 130 crore. He also planted a royal palm sapling in the complex to mark the revival of the plant.
While planting the sapling, the minister asked the forestry unit of the plant to take care of the tree ‘as he had keen interest to see the tree grow.’
The ambitious NPPC was incorporated on September 1971, and commercial production started in 1982. The production came to a grinding halt in October 1992 for various reasons. On his arrival, the union minister was received by the administrators of Mokokchung district.
