A newly floated organization, Ashok Paper Mill Bachao Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (APMBKMM) is to launch a struggle for the revival of the closed Ashok Paper Mills.
The Ashok Paper Mill (APM) had been established by Maharaja of Darbhanga at Rameshwar Nagar in Hayaghat in 1956. Organisation's working president, Shahnawaz Ahmad Kaifi and president, Umadhar Prasad Singh said a decision would be taken on the future course of action at a meeting to be convened here on October 13.
The newly floated outfit has charged Dharam Godha, the chairman of Nouveau Capital and Finance Ltd (NCFL) with hatching a conspiracy, in connivance with officials of industry department, to shift the tools and machinery from the mill premises clandestinely.
Singh alleged that the officials not only misled the court of law but also helped Godha in shifting property in violation of an apex court ruling. While seeking the immediate revival of the closed mill, the leaders also demanded lodging of an FIR against Godha and his arrest.
The promoter, Dharam Godha, has violated the order of the Supreme Court passed on July 8, 1996 and May 1, 1997, they claimed. Earlier, Darbhanga DM, Narmadeshwar Lal had inspected the mill premises on September 8 last.
The DM also filed an adverse report to the industries department, which hinted, that the promoter of the paper mill was simply not interested in running the pulp factory.
{{/usCountry}}The DM also filed an adverse report to the industries department, which hinted, that the promoter of the paper mill was simply not interested in running the pulp factory.
{{/usCountry}}A number of machinery have disappeared and numerous trees have been felled, the report said.
Ashok Paper Mills was a joint sector company and its shares were held by governments of Bihar, Assam and Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI). The company had two units- one in Darbhanga and other in Assam. The company turned sick in the year 1988 and was referred to BIFR. A decision was later taken to bifurcate the two units.
The Assam unit was taken over by the government of Assam in 1990 but the Bihar unit, however, was not taken over by the state government.
Ultimately, in the year 1996, the Centre moved a proposal under hich, a scheme was mooted to handover the mill to a private party, NCFL, understipulated terms and conditions, which was approved by the apex court July 8, 1996.
A trial run was done on November 3, 1998. It, however, turned out to be infructous," sources claimed.