CHAKCHAKA INDUSTRIAL GROWTH CENTRE

Deadlock ends at two jute units in Cooch Behar

Intervention of the district administration prompted two jute units from not closing down their units. It saved about three thousand workers from being jobless. The entrepreneurs and members of the business community too welcomed the move.

In April, the managements of the Essem Jute Industries Limited and the Kamakshi Jute Industries Limited had sent memorandums to the state chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee describing a peculiar problem they were facing from. They said they established their units at Chakchaka Industrial Growth Centre in Cooch Behar district a few years back. The district was a backward one from the viewpoint of industrial development. About three thousand workers got jobs in these two units. But, from the very beginning they had to face many problems. They conveyed the chief minister that they buy raw materials (raw jute) by paying regulated marketing tax but when they send their produces outside of the district for sell they have to pay similar tax for the second time. The authorities of the two jute units appealed the chief minister to save them from paying of double-tax. They also conveyed the matter to the state industries minister Mr Nirupam Sen and administrative officials. But, as they received no positive response against their appeal they announced that they might stop production in their units and close down their units at Chakchaka. This news turned the workers of the two jute units panicky.

Secretary of Cooch Behar District Merchants Chamber of Commerce Mr Rajendra Kumar Baid and senior officials of the mills met the additional district magistrate (development) Mr Sudip Mitra several times and explained him that forcing them to pay double-tax was illegal. Mr Baid also mentioned that if the jute mills pull their shutters down the jobless workers might be a headache of the district administration as the jobless tea garden workers of Dooars. The ADM (D) assured them that the Cooch Behar Sadar SDO will probe into the matter and after considering the SDO's report the DM will take a decision over the issue.

Due to the municipal elections the inquiry process has been delayed. On 1 July, the district magistrate of Cooch Behar Ms Smaraki Mahapatra issued a letter bearing memo no. Dev/470(2). In the letter the DM asked the chairman and the secretary of the Cooch Behar Regulated Market Committee to 'temporarily stop the collection of market fee over jute products which are being manufactured by the Essem Jute Industries Limited and other manufacturing units of jute products' situated in Cooch Behar regulated market area. Explaining the reason the DM mentioned that it appeared to her that 'there remains some prima-facie reason to believe that such type of realisation of fees may not be proper as per the West Bengal Agricultural Produce Marketing (Regulation) Act 1972.' 'However, you are free to collect market fees on raw jute as per the provisions of the said Act', she wrote. The RMC chairman and the secretary were advised to seek 'necessary clarification from appropriate authority over this issue' and to place the same before the DM for 'perusal and further necessary action'.

Expressing their pleasure over issuing of the instruction to stop collection of the alleged double-tax Mr Baid thanked the district administration for ending the stalemate and saving the workers from being jobless.