Former chief minister and Shivamogga MP B S Yeddyurappa has requested the Chief Minister Siddaramaiah not to close or privatise Mysore Paper Mills (MPM) in Bhadravati.
Yeddyurappa, in a letter to the chief minister dated December 25, stated that thousands of workers, farmers and others were dependant on the factory for their livelihood.
“It is unfortunate that due to various reasons it is sick and is on the verge of closure,” the BJP leader rued.
“The factory had faced the threat of closure following a notice by the Pollution Control Board. The State government came out with temporary measures to keep the factory going owing to the pressure exerted by me. But it failed to find a permanent solution for pollution problem because of which the board has taken stringent action now,” he stated.
Yeddyurappa said, he has spoken to the Industries Minister asking him not to shut down or privatise the company.
“The government must immediately release Rs 15 crore to tackle pollution in addition to Rs 500 crore grant in the next budget. Also it should convene a meeting to discuss the problems faced by the company,” he urged.
The managing director of MPM has sent 1,100 employees on permanent leave from November 22 saying hat the company is facing heavy loss.
It is also said that the efforts are on to remove all the employees with a view to shutdown or privatise the company. Nearly 22,000 ha of forest land owned by the company and 850 ha land on which the MPM township is spread would also go to the private investors, he added.
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