BJD members want Industrial unit on OTM land
Bhubaneswar, Mar 12 : Several members of the treasury bench in Odisha Assembly today urged the state government to set up any industrial unit on the land where Odisha Textile Mill (OTM) was operating for the benefit of the OTM workers.
Raising the issue during zero hour, Mr Debasis Samantaray (BJD) said land mafia were encroaching the OTM land. Some miscreants were also selling equipment of the OTM.
He urged the Speaker to direct the government to set up either an Automobile industry or an Aluminium Park on the land.
Mr Samantaray's colleague Pravat Ranjan Biswal said around four thousand workers of the OTM have not yet got their dues after the OTM was closed in 1999.
The workers were staying there in a miserable condition without electricity and water. Several cases relating to OTM were pending in High Court,he said and urged the Speaker to direct the government to resolve the issue after consulting the Advocate General.
Government Chief whip Pravat Tripathy said the ruling BJD has an emotional link with the OTM.
Mr Tripathy suggested the government to convene a high level meeting under the chairmanship of the chief minister. The government in consultation with the Auditor General should take the required legal stand to resolve problem.
After listening to the members Speaker P K Amat directed the government to take note of it.