SHILLONG: The Committee on Public Undertakings of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly visited the Mawmluh Cherra Cements Limited (MCCL) plant at Sohra on Wednesday on a fact finding mission.
During the visit, the team which comprised of senior legislator S.C. Marak and local MLA T. Chyne, besides others, learnt that the MCCL has stopped production of cement since August 9 due to shortage of coal in view of the NGT ban.
Following the visit, Chyne informed that certain spare parts of the existing plant were in need of repair but there were no funds to repair the parts. The MCCL management was yet to pay around Rs.3 crore to the suppliers who had provided coal to the cement plant.
Chyne also informed that around 500 employees of MCCL had received Rs.12, 000 each in July as their salary and this was creating hardships for them.
Speaking on the ongoing modernization of the MCCL plant which began in 2006 and was due to be completed in September, Chyne said, “We do not think that the work would be completed in September as the MCCL management has informed us that it will take another three-four months for the work to be completed.”
Stating that the fact-finding team was of the opinion that MCCL operation should not be stopped as the livelihood of the people of Sohra was at stake, Chyne added that the team has advised the management of the cement plant to write to the State Government and seek financial assistance. The committee will now compile the report and place it before the Assembly.