THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Industries Minister A C Moideen has written to the Union government expressing the state government’s willingness to take over the crisis-ridden Hindustan Newsprint Ltd, a public sector company in Kottayam district.
In his letter sent to Union Minister for Industries Anand Geete on Wednesday, Moideen has made it clear the public sector company never got any financial aid either from the Centre or parent organisation Hindustan Paper Corporation. “The company has not been profitable for the past five years. The state government has provided the raw materials for the company on low rates from the state exchequer, considering the company’s condition. The company turned non-profitable due to the repeated neglect from the Centre, and privatisation policies,” said Moideen in the letter.
He said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had written to the Centre several times in the past seeking a stimulus package. However, nothing has happened. “The Assembly has taken a unanimous resolution for the state to take over the company. But unfortunately, no positive action has come from the Centre,” Moideen said. He urged the Central government to initiate a discussion with the state government.