Stalin lays stone for TN Newsprint expansion

Rs 1,000 crore plan to be completed by June 2010

Deputy chief minister MK Stalin on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the Rs 1,000-crore expansion plan of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers Ltd (TNPL).

TNPL envisages completing the expansion plan of mill by June 2010 and thereby increase the capacity to 400,000 tonnes from 245,000 tonnes per annum.  With this expansion, TNPL will become the largest plant in a single location in the country, according to a company statement.

TNPL would also set up a mini cement plant of 600 tonnes per day (tpd) as part of its lime sludge management at an outlay of Rs 63 crore and a 300 tpd de-inking plant for Rs 174 crore. This apart, it would invest Rs 135 crore to revamp the steam and power system over the next two years, Stalin said.

On the eve of its 25th year of operation, Stalin dedicated the mill development plan, implemented at a cost of Rs 612 crore to the nation. TNPL commenced its first paper production in 1984.

Salary hike
Stalin also announced a 15 per cent hike in salaries for contract labourers of TNPL, Karur, with effect from October 1. A fresh wage accord would be implemented from September 1 next year. “The demand for regularisation of contract staff is long due. We are discussing with representatives of trade unions. As TNPL is a public sector company, the decision will be a matter of policy,” he said.