AIADMK seeks panel to decide modalities of selling lands of AFT mill

PUDUCHERRY: Opposition AIADMK today urged Lt Governor to constitute a high level official team to decide the modalities to sell the lands belonging to public sector AFT Mill to disburse pension benefits to retired workers and staff of the mill and to revamp the mill which.

Addressing reporters here, Deputy leader of the legislature wing of the AIADMK A Anbalagan said the defunct mill should be revamped and the sale of the lands should be subject to monitoring of the disposal by the official team.

He said that the current move of the management to dispose of the lands would only be depriving the mill of hefty income.

There is a move to sell the land totalling 55 acres for a price of Rs 73 crores although the market value was around Rs 150 crores, he alleged and wanted the Lt Governor to intervene and work out action plan for the sale.

He said that the committee should also take into consideration the purpose for which around 11 acres out of 55 acres was allotted to the mill the past.

He said that according to records this site was earlier meant for the housing scheme for mill workers but the land had been kept idle all these years.

There should be proper procedure and sale proceeds should also be used to revamp the mill which reamined defunct since last six years causing hardship to the workers, after paying the statutory benefits to the employees who had retired from service on attaining age of superannuation or opted for voluntary retirement.