SHILLONG: Deputy Chief Minister Prof. RC Laloo on Tuesday informed the House that the project for modernization of Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL) would be completed by September next.
“After much delay due to funds constraints in the initial stages, the modernization of the MCCL is now in its advanced stage. All efforts are being mobilized for its completion by September, 2014,” he said in the Assembly.
Informing that a total amount of Rs.85 crore had been sanctioned when the modernization plan was conceived in 2006, the Deputy Chief Minister said, adding that the cost of the project has escalated due to cost and time overrun.
“Till February 2014, a total amount of Rs.11.46 crore has been spent,” he informed.
While revealing the physical achievement on the various stages of the project, he said that most of the sections (civil, mechanical and electrical) have almost been completed. “The civil work is 100 per cent completed. Major areas of the mechanical work are completed. The installations of the various electrical components have been completed,” Prof. Laloo said.
While replying to a supplementary question of Opposition Leader Dr. Donkupar Roy, Prof. Laloo said that the State Government has provided enough funds to complete all aspects of the project.
He also informed that the amount of pending bills of coal suppliers at MCCL till date stood at Rs.2.55 crore. “Efforts are being taken to clear the bills in phases through deposits made on account of cement sales as is the practice,” he said.
He also said that the MCCL consumes a total of 100 metric tons of coal per day. Earlier, Sohra legislator Titosstarwell Chyne had demanded an independent inquiry into the abnormal practice of the MCCL to purchase the machinery even before the structure was completed.
“Unwanted expenditure is being incurred since the machineries had to be sent for repair even before it was made operational,” Chyne said.
While justifying this decision for procurement of the machinery in advance, the Deputy Chief Minister said that they had purchased the machinery since they had anticipated that the new plant would be completed in October, 2007, as had been scheduled.
