SHILLONG, March 28: KHADC Chief Executive Member (CEM) and UDP MDC, Titos Chyne, has questioned the Meghalaya government for disconnecting power supply to the quarters of the employees of Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL).
“The treatment meted out by the government to the employees of its PSU is unacceptable. I could understand the reason for disconnecting the electricity supply to the factory since it is not functional at present,” Chyne said.
Moreover, the MDC slammed the government for giving special consideration to JUD Cement, for which it restored power supply after the company paid a mere Rs 1 crore out of the Rs 24 crore of outstanding dues.
“It is the duty of the government to look after the welfare of the MCCL employees. I would like the government to provide electricity to the employees who are staying in the quarters,” Chyne said.
Also, Chyne has asked the government to speed up the process of resuming MCCL operations under joint venture mode. “I request the government to release the pending salaries of the employees if the proposed joint venture would still take time,” he said.
Titos said that the employees’ future is in the dark.
“The government is still asking them to attend to their duties despite the cement plant being defunct for several months now. Majority of them do not have money to pay for the transport fares to attending to their work. It is important for the government to make their stand very clear on the future of these employees,” the KHADC CEM said.
Earlier, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, during the budget session of the state Assembly, had informed that the state government will go ahead with a joint venture setup to revive the MCCL. “The state government is presently preparing the cabinet memorandum, seeking the approval of the Cabinet for the joint venture proposal to operate MCCL,” the chief minister had stated.
Sangma informed that he had convened a meeting on July 22 last year with the local representatives, government officials and stakeholders of Sohra Syiemship and Mawmluh Durbar to discuss the current status and strategies which could be adopted for reviving the fortunes of the MCCL.
He said an independent study conducted in August, 2019, estimated that Rs 190.32 crore will be required to revive the cement plant.