MP government unwilling to loosen grip on Hukumchand mill land

The MP government will not give up its claim to the 42-acre Hukumchand Mill land but it is keen to settle the issue of payment of dues to the mill workers and banks quickly.

The MP government will not give up its claim to the 42-acre Hukumchand Mill land but it is keen to settle the issue of payment of dues to the mill workers and banks quickly.

This is what principal secretary to chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Iqbal Singh Bais, conveyed to the Hukumchand Mill union delegation that met him on Tuesday.

The MP government is also not going to change the industrial land use of the mill land if it is auctioned by DRT, Mumbai and it is the state government which is interested in selling off the land.

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) leader Harnam Singh Dhaliwal, who was part of the delegation, said they had gone to meet chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, but they could not meet him as he was preoccupied, and met principal secretary Bais instead.

Dhaliwal said the meeting with Bais lasted for nearly an hour and several issues were discussed in detail. He said the union leaders suggested that the government should pay the workers and the banks and take over the land.

Apart from union leaders Narendra Srivangsh, Devi Singh Sengar, assistant general manager of the industries department Atmaram Soni and assistant liquidator Mukesh Soni were also present.

Another meeting is going to be held between February 5 and 10 after the chief minister returns from his US trip.

Around 6,000 ex-workers of Hukumchand Mill have been fighting for their dues for the last 23 years.