Rs 991 cr FACT package likely next week

FM had cleared the Rs 991-cr package last week and the Chemicals and Fertiliser ministry piloted it to the CCEA

The special financial package for the ailing public sector fertiliser company, Fertilizers and Chemicals Travancore (FACT) is likely to be cleared this week, according to information available.

The Finance Minister had cleared the Rs 991-crore package last week and the Chemicals and Fertiliser ministry piloted it to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). The cabinet committee is likely to consider the package this week.

According to a highly-placed source, as the election code of conduct is in effect, clearance from the Election Commission will be needed to announce the package. This will not be much of a problem as the process for the package began a few months ago. Hence, the striking Save FACT Action Committee (SFAC) expects the announcement next week.

George Thomas, convener, Publicity Committee of the council, told Business Standard the package had got most of the clearances and only the formal approval of the CCEA is needed. If the Election Commission raises any objections, the announcement might be possible only after the elections, he added.

Then, the formal announcement can be made after Kerala votes on April 10. The SFAC is now confident of getting the much-needed package for the 65-year-old fertiliser major.

SFAC has now decided to obstruct the movement of traffic on the container road that connects Cochin International Container Terminal with NH-47 from Friday to pressure the government.

He said, if the CCEA decision comes this week, the plan to block the road would be withdrawn. Meanwhile, the relay hunger strike by the SFAC completed 50 days today. The agitation to ‘save’ the company, which has roughly 5,500 employees,  including casual and contract labourers, completes 150 days on Wednesday.