A Finance Division committee wants to waive huge liability of now-defunct North Bengal Paper Mills (NBPM) and station an army base there for the protection of country’s first nuclear power plant in Rooppur.
Earlier, the Ministry of Industry asked the Ministry of Science and Technology to provide Tk 1405.35 crore to buy 100.51 acres of land of the NBPM. But the latter did not agree with the former.
The six member committee of Finance Division has prepared a report to find a way forward on how to acquire land of the old paper mill.
Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Surayya Akhtar Jahan sent a letter to the finance division to take necessary measure.
Finance division prepared a report on defunct NBPM with five recommendations that also included waiving accumulated losses of Tk 418.16 crore and lay-off staff of the mill and pay Tk 200 crore for their dues on a case to case basis according to court verdict.
Other recommendations including waiver of Tk 6 crore loan of Sonali Bank as per finance division proposal and waiver of loan interest as per proposal of ministry of industries. BCIC will also take necessary measures to waive loan of Tk 347.19 crore incurred by NBPM on account of supplying of raw materials in the last 30 years.
A year ago, the government decided to take over the North Bengal Paper Mills for the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. Located in Pakshi, Pabna, this paper mill has 100.51 acres of land. The government considers acquiring the entire land to ensure safety of the power plant. According to Ministry of Science and Technology, the token value of the land is Tk 1,001.
Meanwhile, correspondence between the Ministry of Industries, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance has been going on for several months. But there have been complications in implementing the government’s decision as Rooppur nuclear power plant is under the Ministry of Science and Technology while the paper mill is under BCIC which is under the Ministry of Industries. Complication arises as BCIC demands money instead of land.
Initially, the Ministry of Science and Technology wanted to get the entire land of the mill at an affordable price. Later, in April last year Science and Technology Minister Yafes Osman presented a summary for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s approval to acquire land at a token price. It is said that they do not have fund to purchase land at an affordable price. As the safety of the power plant is one of the priorities of the state, it is necessary to get this land at a symbolic price. The Prime Minister approved the summary on May 15 last year.
Following approval of the Prime Minister, the BCIC informed the Ministry of Science and Technology on June 20 that the paper mill has a liability of Tk 475 crore and the accumulated loss till June 30, 2016 stood at Tk 426 crore. Besides, out of the employees laid off in 2002, 206 have been reinstated through the court verdict. Now it has cost Tk 200 crore. Another 36 employees are awaiting court’s verdict for reinstatement.
BCIC further said that the total pension and gratuity of 564 employees (206 + 36) will be Tk 100 crore in other words. North Bengal Paper Mill now needs Tk 1,104 crore for a total layoff. Therefore, BCIC has demanded Tk 1,405 crore from the Ministry of Science and Technology for the value of 101.51 acres of land and all awaiting payments.
On June 23 last year, the Ministry of Science and Technology sent a letter to the Industries Secretary demanding an explanation on the land. In a letter sent to Finance Secretary Abdur Rauf Talukder on October 10, Ministry of Science and Technology said, “The Prime Minister has given policy approval to transfer 101.51 acres of land of the paper mill to the Ministry of Science and Technology at a symbolic price of Tk 1,001.
At present, the Bangladesh Army is providing security to the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. For this reason the land is required to manage their official activities, accommodation of the members and ensure smooth functioning. The issue of liability of the organization also needs to be settled.
However, the Finance Ministry’s finance division constituted a six-member committee on November 4 to find out a way for Rooppur power plant authority.
The North Bengal Paper Mill was established in 1960 near Hardinge Bridge on the banks of the Padma River. The mill started in 1985 with a production capacity of 15,000 tons of paper per month. However, in December 2002, the then government closed it.
Shaukat Akbar, project director of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant, said the main power plant would not be on the land of the paper mill. Security and physical security have been emphasized here and new initiatives have been taken for this, he said.
ask/wi
