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| State suffers loss of ` 50 crores as Khrew cement plant turns idle | | Non-responsive management fails to procure coal | | Jehangir Rashid
Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 13 : The state of Jammu & Kashmir has suffered a loss of around Rs. 50 crores since the last month and half as a cement plant of one of the premier Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) of the state has been virtually made defunct by the people at helm. The cement plant of Jammu & Kashmir Cements Limited located at Khrew in South Kashmir's Pulwama district is non-functional since February 1 this year. The reason for this is that there is no coal available at the plant so that the plant could function and produce cement as it has been doing for decades now.
Early Times has learnt from a group of employees that the management of this PSU has purchased coal, but it has been dumped at Jammu, the winter capital of the state. The employees said that the previous stock of coal at the Khrew cement factory had exhausted by the end of January this year and since then no fresh supply has been received.
"The management procured 2,000 tonnes of coal in January this year and dumped it at Jammu. They did not bother to dispatch the coal required for running the cement plant at Khrew. As a result of which cement production has come to a standstill in the cement plant and the machinery is rusting there," said the employees. The employees said that the PSU is suffering huge losses due to the stoppage in the cement production at the Khrew cement plant. They added that Jammu & Kashmir Cements Limited suffers a loss of Rs. 1 crore per day due to the non-functioning of the three kilns established at the cement plant.
"The present Managing Director R. K Sharma is least bothered over this disturbing situation and he is putting up at Jammu for the past six months or so now. He failed to get the supply from the government departments and as a result of the nexus going on these government departments procured cement from the private cement factories," said the employees. The employees said that during the financial year 2014-15, the Khrew cement plant has lost 35,000 metric tonnes of clinker production worth Rs. 25 crores due to the non-availability of the coal. They said that it was the responsibility of the Managing Director to arrange for the same but failed due to his alleged inefficiency and incapability.
"The post of Managing Director is a technical one and the person who is appointed on this position should be equivalent to Chief Engineer. However, the present Managing Director is a non-technical person belonging to the clerical background at SICOP. How can a non-technical person do justice with the job of a technical post," said the employees. The employees said that due to the laid back attitude of the management they are without the salaries for the past three months. They demanded that Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed should intervene in this matter so that a technical as well as capable person is appointed as Managing Director of the PSU.
Early Times tried to reach out to the Managing Director, Jammu & Kashmir Cements Limited, R. K Sharma, but his mobile was switched off. |
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