The delay by the State government to revive the government owned Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) at Sohra was today raked up by VPP legislator Ardent M Basaiawmoit in the Assembly.
It may be mentioned that the MCCL issue has been put in the backburner by the State government although there were moves to operationalise the oldest public sector undertaking on a joint venture basis which the employees were not in favour of.
Taking part in the debate on the Governor’s address, Basaiawmoit flayed the State government for its failure to protect the interest of its own public sector undertakings such as MCCL and others.
“Nothing much is known about the intention of the government on this cement factory which is the rice bowl of the people of Sohra,” he said.
“The employees are not getting their salary regularly and there are indications that the salary may stop at any moment,” he added.
The VPP legislator from Nongkrem also expressed surprise over the earlier claim by the State government that it had difficulty in investing an amount of Rs 190 crore to revive the MCCL.
To drive home his point, Basaiawmoit referred to the ongoing shopping mall project at Khyndai Lad where the government has sanctioned Rs 200 crore for its construction.
“If the government can spend Rs 200 crore for setting up a shopping mall at the MTC building in Khyndai Lad, what prevents the government from investing Rs 190 crore for reviving the MCCL at Sohra?” he said.
Opposing the moves of the government to go for a joint venture to revive MCCL, Basaiawmoit said, “We cannot afford to give away the MCCL to any private entity in the name of a joint venture.”
It may be recalled that on July 19, 2021, the State cabinet had decided to operate the MCCL on a joint venture basis. Citing financial constraints, the government said it is unable to invest Rs 190 crore to revive the PSU.
After floating an expression of interest, three companies submitted their bids but two of them later backed off. The remaining bidder Bhavika Commercial Private Limited (BCPL) from West Bengal is keen to run MCCL although its credentials are under scrutiny.
