The State government is yet to take steps to end the current deadlock on the fate of Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) whose employees are still on strike.
The employees have gone on warpath protesting the failure by the government to revamp MCCL which is the State’s oldest public sector undertaking. They are also demanding payment of their pending salary.
About 500 employees of the government-owned cement plant based in Mawmluh, Sohra have not been paid from February to October this year including their five months’ salary of 2015-16.
The failure by the State government to reach out to the employees and offer them a feasible solution to the crisis has added to the impasse.
However, the State government has hinted that it may no longer come to the aid of the ailing MCCL by way of fresh financial injection.
The government has indicated that it may go for joint venture with any private company to run MCCL through public-private partnership (PPP).
Recently, MCCL chairman Wailadmiki Shylla had said that three options are on the table to end the deadlock. They include joint venture, total closure or investment of Rs 180 crore.
Shylla said that investing Rs 180 crore was not possible as the State government is facing financial crunch due to Covid-19. He also said that in the past the government has had to pump in money time and again to help the company stay afloat.
He also said that Mawmluh Elaka and Hima Sohra are putting pressure on the government to invest in MCCL by releasing the much needed fund of Rs 180 crore to revive the cement plant.
On June 7, 2016, the State cabinet had approved a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for 145 out of 445 employees of the MCCL and earmarked Rs 22.3 crore to facilitate the employees to retire voluntarily in a bid to revamp the state-owned company. However, the cement factory continues to run at a loss.
