KTR urges Centre to reopen CCI unit in Adilabad

Operations at the plant stopped in 1996 for want of working capital and as per the sanctioned scheme of BIFR

Hyderabad: Industries Minister KT Rama Rao has urged the Centre to reopen the Cement Corporation of India (CCI) unit in Adilabad, which has remained closed since 1996.

In a letter to the Union Minister for Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey on Thursday, the Minister stated that the issue was taken up with Central Government in the past but there was no development. “Earlier the issue was brought to the notice of Mahendra Nath Pandey’s predecessors, but no favorable decision has been made in this matter” KT Rama Rao said.

CCI unit in Adilabad commenced production in 1984 with an initial cost of Rs. 47 crore. The plant is located in an area spread over 772 acres on the outskirts of Adilabad town and has a township of 170 acres with about 400 quarters, the Minister said.

The plant was catering to the cement requirements in Maratwada, Vidarbha regions in Maharashtra and North Telangana. Operations at the plant stopped in 1996 for want of working capital and as per the sanctioned scheme of BIFR, the Minister informed. The plant was to be closed down by offering VRS to the employees in 2008. However, the employees approached the court and the matter is presently under status-quo with 75 employees still on the rolls.

The Industries Minister highlighted that the plant has a live mining lease in an area of about 1500 acres with limestone deposits of about 48 million tonnes. The unit also has a power supply connection of 32 KVA and water availability is still in place for the plant. He further stated that coal of the required quality is available with Singareni Collieries Corporation Limited, a state-owned coal mining company, which can be supplied on a cost-plus basis.

“Given the strategic importance, I humbly request that steps may be initiated under your stewardship to revive and restart the unit. The State Government shall extend all necessary assistance as required in this endeavor,” Minister KT Rama Rao said.

‘Employ local youth in cement factories’

Hyderabad: Industries Minister KT Rama Rao has appealed to the managements of cement factories in Huzurnagar to employ local youth at their units. On Thursday, the Minister along with MLA Saidireddy, held a meeting with managements of all the cement factories located in and around Huzurnagar.

During the meeting, the Minister appealed to the industrialists to increase local employment within their units and assured them of all support from State government. Sharing details of the new industrial policy, KT Rama Rao stated that companies which employ local youth will be extended incentives in the form of tax breaks. The Minister also promised to set up a local skill centre, which would focus on the requirements of cement industry.

He also mentioned that the State government was coming up with special plans to develop Huzurnagar industrially. MLA Saidireddy requested the industrialists to restart the apprenticeship programme and assured them of support in these endeavors. Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan, Commissioner of Industries Manickaraj, and TSIIC Vice Chairman & Managing Director Venkat Narsimha Reddy also participated in the meeting.

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