The banned outfit held Gavin Miguel Mylliem accountable for MCCL mess
By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, Jan 2: Sohra NPP legislator, Gavin Miguel Mylliem on Tuesday said he was surprised by the death threat by the extremist HNLC, holding him accountable for the downfall of the Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL).
“It was surprising because the HNLC threatened a sitting MLA for the first time, thereby giving an impression that the banned organisation is dabbling in the electoral politics of the state,” he said.
“This goes against all tenets of democratic polity. It further gives an impression that the threat is the result of some political game by a vested interest,” Mylliem told reporters.
He said the HNLC has also unnecessarily held him responsible for the government’s decision to close down MCCL and implement VRS for the employees.
He said everybody would be aware that the government takes a collective decision and not because of what an individual does or thinks.
Mylliem said he would like to remind the HNLC, which has demanded his resignation, that the people of Sohra have been electing him since 2018.
“I shall serve the people as long as they give me their mandate. The people of my constituency are fully aware that I have never backed out of serving them with utmost sincerity and diligence, which is reflected in the development across the constituency during my tenure as the MLA,” he said.
He said many people are aware that the main area of operation of the MCCL is located within the Shella constituency and not within Sohra. The Sohra MLA should thus not have reasons to be too concerned with the matters of the MCCL, he pointed out.
“However, I had taken an interest in trying to uplift the MCCL as many workers of the company are from my constituency. My colleagues are also aware that on many occasions, I have raised the matters relating to the MCCL in the Assembly,” Mylliem said. Urging the government to save the cement company, he said the MCCL has been affected by a number of reasons and not because of the Sohra representative.
“The harm had already been done (to MCCL) when I became an MLA in 2018. If any questions are to be asked, and if any responsibility is to be fixed, they should target those who were functioning in responsible capacities from 2007 onwards when the plant started to deteriorate,” Mylliem said.
“I hope that the HNLC would abstain from making such baseless statements henceforth,” he added.
The Sohra MLA said there are a few options for the government to revive the plant, including infusion of additional funds under a restructuring scheme, joint venture with private cement manufacturers, and dissolution of the firm with suitable VRS packages for the employees, and clearance of the existing liabilities.
According to him, reviving MCCL would entail a fund of about Rs 188 crore.
“It is understood that MCCL has some pending liabilities towards government departments, suppliers, contractors, and its employees The infusion of funds for its revival was not found feasible as there is no form of assurance whether the company will be able to sustain itself in the future even after the infusion of funds. It is also important to remember that the government for the past 15 years invested around Rs 350 crore in the plant without any positive results,” he said.
Mylliem said the expression of interest for a joint venture was floated in July 2021 and three parties – Arihant International Ltd, J.K. Cements Ltd, and Bhavika Commercial Pvt Ltd – responded. The first company was disqualified in the first instance, the second company opted out, and the third is yet to furnish the required information and documents.
MCCL’s dissolution involves a sizable VRS package for the employees and the clearance of existing liabilities, he said.
Mylliem said the government seems to be left with no option but to consider dissolution of the plant.
He also said it was important to note that the Mawmluh Cherra Cements Employees’ Union wrote to the management on June 28, 2023, expressing their desire to negotiate the terms and conditions to implement the voluntary retirement scheme.
“In view of these facts, it is not correct to say that the government has taken a decision forcefully in the matter. It should be understood that the government is facing a very difficult situation while deciding on the matter. However, I am confident that the government will, in its wisdom, take a decision which would be in the interest of the workers, locals, and the state as a whole,” Mylliem said.