(a) whether the Government is aware that the Cachar Paper Mill, Panchgram is facing acute shortage
of raw materials for last few months;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken to improve the condition?
(a) whether the Government is aware that the Cachar Paper Mill, Panchgram is facing acute shortage
of raw materials for last few months;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the steps being taken to improve the condition?
MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEAVY INDUSTRIES AND PUBLIC ENTERPRISES (SHRI PRAFUL PATEL)
(a): Yes, Madam.
(b): Due to the gregarious flowering of bamboo, procurement of fibrous raw material at Cachar Paper Mill (CPM) has been adversely affected since 2009-10. Government of Mizoram, which caters to 60% of CPM’s requirement of bamboo (primary raw material), has imposed restriction on issue of permits for bamboo supply to CPM since 28.03.2011. Non-availability of coupes has also adversely affected the supply of bamboo to CPM from the lease forest areas of Barak Valley. Dima Hasao is also a major source of bamboo but due to poor infrastructure the procurement from this source is limited.
(c): Government of Mizoram has been requested to withdraw the embargo imposed on the bamboo coming from Mizoram to CPM. Government of Assam (GoA) has been approached to allot unused land to HPC mills in Assam for raising captive plantations.
CPM procured pulpwood from non-conventional sources during FY 2011-12. Bamboo was also transferred from Nagaon Paper Mill (NPM), another mill of Hindustan Paper Corporation, located in Morigaon district of Assam to CPM on continuous basis. CPM also procured more than 13,000 ADMT (Air Dried Metric Ton) imported pulp during FY 2011-12 to support the fibrous raw material requirement.
Supply of bamboo from Manipur under Gate Purchase Scheme has also been initiated. CPM is also procuring
home grown bamboo from Barak Valley areas under rate contract in addition to the Gate Purchase Scheme.