Bengal sets 10-day deadline for Dunlop unit revival

The West Bengal Government on Monday gave a 10-day deadline to the Pawan Ruia-controlled Dunlop India to come up with a blueprint to resume production at the company's Shahgunj unit in Hooghly, West Bengal.

The State Government has reportedly assured the Dunlop management of taking care of the alleged law and order problems in and around the factory premises in Shahgunj.

“The government will take care of the law and order. But the management has to come clear on resuming production. We have asked Mr Ruia to submit a blueprint on future plans and revival of production,” Mr Purnendu Basu, State Labour Minister, told Business Line over the phone after a meeting with Mr Pawan Ruia.

“If he fails we may take legal action,” Mr Basu added.

Visit to the unit

The Labour Minister had sought a meeting with the Ruia Group chairman, Mr Ruia, to discuss possibilities of revival of the Shahgunj unit after visiting it on July 16.

“We will consider his appeals to provide relief and see what can be done. But all this is subject to the fact that he stops dismantling of labour quarters and gives a detailed report of resuming production facilities,” Mr Basu said.

Dunlop India Ltd, meanwhile, has reiterated that issues relating to “evacuation of illegal occupants” and reducing incidence of theft from the factory be taken care of before production facilities are revived.

"I apprised the Minister of the situation in the Sahahgunj unit and told him about the problems and how it can be reopened," Mr Ruia told reporters following the meeting with the minister.

Mr Ruia further added that he had apprised the minister about the requirement to set up a 50 MW captive thermal power plant inside the 250-acre premises for consistency in production. The proposal is currently awaiting clearance from the State environment department.