Our Correspondent
Kohima | July 25
Parliamentary Secretary in charge of Industries & Commerce, Dr. K.C Nihoshe yesterday disclosed that a total of Rs.552.44 crore was sanctioned for the revival of the Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company Ltd at Tuli out of which Rs.54.60 crore was released by the Government of India in September 2007.
Replying to a starred question raised by Congress MLA T. Sentichuba, Dr. Nihoshe however said due to cost escalation, the cost of the project has gone up from Rs.552.44 crore to Rs.1279.54 crore and the proposal has been sent to the Government of India for approval. Due to the escalation of the cost of the project due to rise in prices, a new DPR had to be prepared and fresh proposal sent to the Government of India, he said while replying to a supplementary question. Asked on how long it will take for proper functioning of the mill, he assured that the project will be commissioned in 27 months from the date of approval of the revised cost estimate. Asked on whether it is true that an amount of Rs.52 crore only had been received under Administration head account, Dr. Nihoshe said the Government of India had released a sum of Rs.54.60 crore to Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPC) out of which amount HPC had, in monthly installments, so far released Rs.50.81 crore after adjusting Rs.3.5 crore due to them in current account.
Admitting that the workers of the Tuli Paper Mill were not paid their salaries for the months of May and June this year, he said this would be cleared soon.
