The marathon meeting chaired by Minister for Heavy Industries, Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey to discuss the revival of Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) in Ranchi bore no result.
The Minister, who chaired the meeting on Thursday, categorically said that HEC management would have to find the solution. He turned down the request of the HEC for a bailout package worth Rs 875 Crore. He also refused to allow HEC to increase its bank guarantee and mortgage HEC land to raise money from the market.
HEC had extended both proposals for the revival of HEC, which is facing lockdown for the past couple of weeks.
The meeting continued for six hours, which was attended by the Secretary of Heavy Industry Arun Goyal, CMD of HEC Nalin Singhal and other officials of the ministry and HEC.
The Minister asked the CMD to ensure that workers end their tool down strike. He cautioned a prolonged strike would further prove detrimental for HEC. But, there was no solution of how the HEC would pay the wages of labourers. HEC has been facing a tool down strike for the past couple of weeks owing to the non-payment of salaries to employees.
Now the officials of HEC and heavy industry are expected to meet HEC labour union to end their strike.
BJP’s Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth who has been regularly raising the matter of the HEC said that he was hopeful for a long-lasting solution of the problem of HEC. In September Seth had met the minister and raised the problems of HEC.
There are currently 1350 permanent officers-employees in the company. Besides, there are around 1700 supply workers.
Labourers have alleged HEC management forced them to work without wages for the past several months.
The HEC has currently a work order worth Rs 2000 crore and it has a completed work order worth Rs 1200 Cr. But the production has been halted. On average HEC has to pay Rs 11 crore per month as salary and wages to labourers. HEC insiders said that even officials have not received their salaries.