State Industries Minister, Sniawbhalang Dhar has said that the management of the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) decided to dismantle the chimney of the plant since it was old and there were fears that it can collapse anytime.
Dhar said that he came to know about it after he had sought a report on dismantling of the chimney.
On the running of the government owned cement plant, the Industries Minister said that on the request of the local MLA Gavin Miguel Mylliem and the local community of Sohra, the government will discuss what is to be done with it.
While pointing out that there are many issues related to MCCL, Dhar said that the government will ponder in the new year what can be done with it.
“We will decide whether to go for joint venture or auction. But we will do what is the best for MCCL and go with it,” he added.
The Industries Minister also said that the government will take into confidence the stakeholders before taking any decision on the cement plant even as he added that it may lead to permanent closure as told by the Chief Minister, Conrad Sangma recently.
Sangma recently said that the state government is amicably settling the matter with the stakeholders and employees and more or less, they have more or less come to a conclusion of going for voluntary retirement scheme.
According to him, the state government requires huge investment for moving forward with the cement factory even though more than Rs 300 crore has been invested in the project in the last 15 years.
“We have tried our best to revive the MCCL but in the given circumstances, the public and employees are suffering and decisiveness has to be there and we have decided that we will be closing it with proper consultations with the stakeholders for terms and conditions,” Sangma had said.
