Dunlop announces 'partial' suspension withdrawal

With the West Bengal government having stipulated that Dunlop India Ltd's plant at Sahaganj should first reopen, its promoter Pawan Kumar Ruia today announced 'partial' withdrawal of the suspension of work notice.

After a company board meeting here, Ruia also offered to allow a workers' cooperative to run the plant in Hooghly district along with liabilities, if the unions and the state government felt the present management was incapable of managing the plant.

The Sahaganj plant is under suspension of work since October 8.

Replying to a question, Ruia said that at a meeting with the labour minister he was open to a workers' cooperative to run the plant along with liabilities.

"I am more concerned about workers and wages," he said.

Miffed at the state government for not assisting with working capital, Ruia said "I am committed to Sahaganj and still do not beleive it is a bad asset.

"But, without help of the government with working capital we can reopen the plant in a limited manner and phases," Ruia who has already resigned from the chairmanship and directorship of Dunlop said.

Detailing the suspension notice withdrawal, Ruia said initially, only the industrial products division would reopen after restoration of power and completion of repairs.

Following this the OTR divsion would reopen. Once the 50-MW power plant was operational the company would open the normal tyre divison.

Ruia did not give details of workers and employees in each divison, but said only 50-70 engineers of the IP divsion would join immediately.