HAILAKANDI, Sept 26 - The members of HPC Paper Mills Revival Action Committee today blocked two places of the National Highway in Barak Valley for four hours from 9 am for the release of pending salaries and revival of Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram of Hailakandi and Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad. The members of the committee, including employees of the mill, members of various non-governmental organisations, KMSS, representatives of AIUDF, Congress and CPI(M), former MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuiya and students blocked NH 37 at Panchgram-Dhaleswar point of Hailakandi district and NH 6 at Katigorah-Kalain point which continued till 1 pm. Thousands of vehicles remained stranded.
The convenors of the committee said that they have resorted to block the NHs in Barak Valley to register protest against the alleged apathetic attitude of the State and the Central Governments towards the people of Assam by deliberately delaying to restart and revive the paper mills of Assam. Due to non-functioning of the paper mills, employees and their family members are facing serious problems. But surprisingly enough, both the Governments have turned a blind eye in this regard, convenors alleged.
They also demanded revival of the mills as they had subtantial contributions to the state economy .
�Let strive unitedly so that the Prime Minister realize his commitment to the people of Assam and revive the industries. We are confident that joint efforts and struggle may save the industries from evil design of private corporate houses,� they claimed.
It may be mentioned that the salaries of the employees of Cachar Paper Mill were stopped in October, 2016 . The production of the mill was suspended in December, 2015 on the plea of financial crisis. The mill was established in 1988 at Panchgram of Hailakandi.
