The Adhunik Metaliks limited (AMl) steel plant of 0.5 MTPA established at a cost of over Rs 3,000 crore declared lockout of the unit on February 13, rendering about 5,000 persons jobless. Ironically, it was inaugurated by Chief Minister Naveen Patnik in 2002 at Chandriharipur in Kuarmunda and the unit was closed on the same day when Patnaik was addressing a youth convention of ruling BJD in Rourkela
laying much importance on youths and development of the State. A union of the workers affiliated to CITU on the very first day gheraoed the Rourkela DlC opposing the move. On Sunday when State labour Minister Prafulla Mallick was in city to address his party’s youth convention, a delegation of workers’ union under the leadership of Bishnu Mohanty met him demanding an early instruction to the AMl management to reopen the factory and disburse pending wages of the workers. However, the Minister only assured the union of taking necessary steps.
Similarly, Adhunik Metalliks Staff and Officers Association president KK Sahoo met the Chief Minister at Rourkela on Saturday and reiterated the same demand. The Chief Minister also assured to sort out the problems soon. Sahoo is also planning to meet the labour Commissioner in this regard. Meanwhile, Rourkela DlC and AlC have already moved to Bhubaneswar to report the latest of the AMl lockout.
AMl sources said the management was facing tremendous financial crisis amid disruption of production due to scarcity of iron ore. After paying bank loan instalment along with statutory dues, the company is left with no fund to pay salaries. That is why, it was forced to go for a lockout. Now, the workers will wait for the final verdict of the labour Commissioner.