NEW DELHI, Sept 6 � Uncertainty looms large over the fate of Ashok Paper Mill, with the Centre still awaiting finalisation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and a slew of other related clearances. An estimated investment Rs 2,476 crore has been projected for revival of the paper mill.
Revival of Ashok Paper Mill would be feasible only after DPR is finalised, mode of revival is decided, an appropriate implementing agency is appointed and sources of financing the revival scheme are finalised, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Praful Patel said in a reply to a question by Kumar Deepak Das.
The Hindustan Paper Corporation had submitted DPR and Rapid Environment Impact Assessment (REIA) report to the Department of Heavy Industries and Government of Assam late last year for obtaining environment clearance, the Minister said.
The HPC had engaged a consultant for preparing the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR) and DPR . Based on the consultant�s report, a Greenfield project of 2 lakh TPA capacity of writing-printing paper was prepared.
The Ministry of Environment and Forest has sanctioned the terms of reference (ToR) for conducting Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) study for getting environment clearance. REIA study report has been submitted by the consultant. Mandatory public hearing is being arranged by Government of Assam based on which environmental clearance for the project would be obtained from MoEF, he added.
In 1989-1990, a financial package of Rs 67.08 crore was sanctioned by Government of India for revival of the project. The Government of Assam had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Sanghi Textile Limited in 1995 and subsequently with Soneko Paper and Industries Limited in 2000 to run the mill. However, these companies could not revive the mill. In 2009, the Ministry of Home Affairs made the Department of Heavy Industries the nodal ministry for revival of APM and engaged HPC as its consultant.
