As the vagaries of the weather are taking their toll on the century-old building of the Comtrust Weaving Factory overlooking the historic Mananchira pond in the city, the employees are planning to approach the court accusing the management of violating the district industrial disputes tribunal’s order to reopen it at the earliest.
E.C. Satheesan, convener of the joint coordination committee of trade unions representing the employees, told The Hindu on Sunday that lack of maintenance was damaging the looms and other properties, and the factory building itself. “Ever since the factory was closed down in 2009, the management has not lifted a finger to maintain the property. They left it to be a den for antisocial elements,” he alleged.
Mr. Satheesan said it was the employees who nabbed the antisocial elements and handed them over to the police. The management was reluctant to pursue the case.
Tribunal order
As the management reportedly dithered on the order issued by the tribunal in mid-June this year, a portion of the building collapsed a couple of weeks later. Though it was repaired to some extent and the district administration promised to conserve the property, nothing seems to be happening.
On Saturday morning, another portion in the main building was found collapsed in the previous night’s rain, and the looms and wefts were damaged permanently.
“We presume the management has a hidden agenda of deliberately letting it decay so that they can sell off the property located in a prime area of the city,” said Mr. Satheesan.
Asked about the future course of action, he said the coordination committee was planning to approach the court highlighting the reticence of the management in implementing the tribunal order. “Recently, a delegation of employees brought the issue to the notice of the District Collector, and staff in the office of the Revenue Minister and the Minister for Culture,” said Mr. Satheesan.
He said the State Archaeological Department too had been consulted as the factory building was a heritage structure.
Meanwhile, M.G. Gopinath, executive director of the company, said there was no clarity on the operations of the factory.
“There is talk about the State government taking it over. Some dispute is also going on. We are yet to take a decision on reopening it,” he added.
