JAGIROAD, Feb 9 � The employees union of the Assam Polytex Limited (APL), situated near Jagiroad has demanded the State government to declare the earlier memornadum of understanding (MoU) adopted with a Guwahati-based private firm � Assam Yarn Suppliers regarding joint participation in the running of the mill as null and void, in view of the prolonged suspension of employees for more than a decade. To press upon the demand, the APL Employees Union have also decided to stage a dharna programme at Dispur on the eve of the forthcoming Assembly session.
These resolutions were taken in a public meeting held at Bhumoraguri near here on February 6 under the chairmanship of a senior citizen, Ananda Deuri to have a threadbare discussion on the fate of the mill in presence of various organisations viz, Tiwa Sahitya Sabha, Tiwa Students� Union, Jagiroad Anchalik Students� Union, Jagiroad Nagarik Samiti, Unemployment Union, and Congress leaders of the area along with members of the public.
The speakers of the gathering observed the present condition of the closed mill and supported the following decisions of the employees of the APL.
Bapdhan Boro, general secretary, APL, Employees Union, said that APL has been shut down since 1995 after the charge of the mill was taken over by the Assam Yarn Suppliers. At least 47 workers of the APL have died since then due to lack of proper treatment and two persons have reportedly committed suicide due to severe financial crisis, Bapdhan Boro said.
APL the third spinning mill was set up near Jagiroad in 1987 with an initial installed capacity of 16,184 spindles. It has the capacity to produce 3000 kg of finished products per day.
In the peak hours the highest production of 2800 kg was achieved in 1988-89. But gradually the production declined and finally became nil due to rampant mismanagement, non-availability of raw materials to the mill and severe financial crisis.
Earlier, the mill was closed down due to non-availability of raw materials and damage caused by fire to spinning section of the mill in 1992. After a long gap, the mill resumed production but owing to severe financial crisis it was finally cosed down due to non payment of electricity bill amounting to Rs 19 lakh.
Finding itself in a tight corner, the State government entered into negotiations with city-based � Assam Yarn Suppliers and an MoU was signed on January 3, 1994 between the State government, the Assam Yarn Suppliers and the APL. According to the terms and conditions of the MoU, the new management agreed to immediately pay a month�s salary to the employees, and accordingly, Rs 6.5 lakh was given to the employees of the mill. The new management, which also gave an undertaking to clear the rest of the outstanding within a short time, failed to keep its commitment. Since then, the employees are doing without salaries.
The MoU was cancelled by the Employees Union of APL on August 19, 1994 due to non-participation of AYS in the maintenace of the mill even after its physical possession. After a long gap of 10 months after take-over of the mill by the AYS on May 16, 1994, the mill was opened by the new management from April 1, 1995. However, it was suddenly closed down on July 26, 1995.
The fate of the 500-odd employees of the mill hangs in balance with the APL facing the threat of permanent closure.
