Union secretary for heavy industries Dr. Sutanu Behuria arrived Nagaland Wednesday to meet with the state’s top policy makers on the next steps to be taken in order to set the ball rolling for reviving the Nagaland Pulp and Paper Corporation Ltd (NPPCL) or Tuli Paper Mill which suspended operations since the mid-80s.
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) on June 4, 2013 approved the revival of the NPPCL through infusion of funds of Rs.309.38 crore, regularization of inter se diversion of fund of Rs.54.60 crore, and increasing the authorized capital of NPPCL from Rs.150 crore to Rs.250 crore. CCEA also gave its approval to avail term loan of Rs.156.50 crore from commercial banks against government guarantee.
Dr. Behuria was accompanied by the chairman-cum-managing director of Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited, MV Narasimha Rao.
Speaking to reporters on arrival at Dimapur Airport, Dr. Behuria said, “because the government of India has now approved the revival package for the Paper Mill here, I have come to meet your government and find out what are the next steps, how will we go about it and what we should do.”
He however ruled out the possibility of a visit to the site of the defunct Tuli Paper Mill.
Dr. Behuria reasoned that the ‘revival scheme’ needs to be prepared. “We have to see what is required, what exactly needs to be done. So that has to be worked out,” he said.
On the assurance given by Nagaland minister for Industries, Pangnyu Phom to make run the Paper Mill in ‘full swing’ within two years’, he felt that it was ‘feasible’ since the plant is already there.
“We need to do some revamping of the machine, we have to do something about the power and once we have the raw materials then we will start. We are not starting from scratch, it’s already there,” he said.
On the issue of alleged encroachment of the Paper Mill land, he responded that the issue was a “responsibility of the state government.”
Later, briefing media persons at Hotel Jafü in Kohima, Dr. Behuria informed that the draft Revival scheme which has already started, would be submitted to the Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR) and the IDBI Bank who would then examine the viability of the revival scheme.
“Once the final approval from BIFR and IDBI Bank is received the money will be released but the process would take some time” he stated.
On the meeting with chief secretary Alemtemshi Jamir and state officials, Dr. Behuria said a large number of issues including roads, transportation of raw-materials, un- interrupted power supply, water supply, training of personnel, corporate social responsibility by training local youth in the catchment areas and providing other facilities were deliberated.
Dr. Behuria further informed that expansion could be considered at a later stage, in consideration of matters like raw-materials and demand etc.
He said the Paper Mill would continue to remain a subsidiary of the Hindustan paper Corporation, owned by the central government while the 5% equity of the state would increase to 10% and majority equity would remain with the Corporation.