Stage set for AFT Mill to resume operations on Tuesday

Proceedings initiated to lift lay-off given to section of workers

The mill management has initiated proceedings to lift lay-off given to a section of workers, who are attached to spinning and processing sections. It is said that about 350 workers, out of 1200, will join duty on Wednesday. File Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Decks have almost been cleared for re-starting the historic Anglo French Textile Mill, as per the plan, on Wednesday.

Hectic works marked the day on Monday as its Chairman V. Bhalan and management officials of the mill went to various offices of the Puducherry government to get the mandatory clearances.

While a team of officials visited the Puducherry Electricity Department to get the reconnection of power to A and C units, another team went to the Finance Department to get the release of Rs. 4.5 crore, which is badly in need of supporting the initial operation of the mill.

Based on an assurance given by the mill management that it will remit the pending electricity dues within three months, P.R. Meena, Secretary, Power, has cleared a file to reconnect electricity to A and C units.

The Hindu learnt that the reconnection would be given to two units by Tuesday in order to resume the much-awaited production of the mill. It was also said that the Finance Department would release grant in aid to the tune of Rs. 4.5 crore within one or two days to infuse capital requirement.

Meanwhile, the mill management has initiated proceedings to lift lay-off given to a section of workers, who are attached to spinning and processing sections. It is said that about 350 workers, out of 1200, will join duty on Wednesday. However, lay-off is likely to continue for remaining workers at least for one more month. The lay-off is slated to be fully withdrawn once two more units start production.

The installation of 1000 KV new transformer has also been completed at the C unit. The works such as checking the proper functioning of the transformer, the process of connecting to the power line and others have been undertaken at a full swing.

When contacted, Mr. Bhalan told The Hindu that the production would be restarted on Wednesday as per the schedule. Most of the issues had already been sorted.

The first consignment of cotton, which is a main raw material, had reached the mill. Steps were taken to procure cotton from the Cotton Corporation of India (CCI), Mumbai, he said.