Shillong, Oct 22: Sohra MLA, Gavin Miguel Mylliem on has suggested a number of measures to revamp the ailing state-owned cement factory, Mawmluh Cherra Cement Limited (MCCL), and wanted that non-wage board category employees should also function from Sohra and not from Shillong so that the factory can operate in a professional manner.

Mylliem told reporters that a lot of measures have to be taken make the MCCL function in a professional manner.

“There must be a team of consultant having expertise in the dry process plant, technical expert to look into frequent breakdown of plant machinery, streamline the manufacturing, production and sale operation,” Mylliem said.

The MCCL has been there as a factory since 1955 during the undivided Assam.

The Sohra MLA expressed concern over the inability of the MCCL to function in a way that would sustain its operation and generate a long term benefit to the people.

Pointing out that there was nobody that the MCCL should compete with in the market in the past, the Sohra MLA however said that the MCCL now has to compete with other private cement factories in the state, adding that the state PSU required marketing experts too.

Apart from the wage board category employees, Mylliem said that non wage board category employees of the MCCL should also function from Sohra instead of Shillong.

Stating that he has taken up the matter with the government earlier including the Chief Minister, Mylliem said that the MCCL chairman, H Brolding Nongsiej would also convene a meeting to discuss the issue. The MCCL in 2005 had conceptualized an expansion project for addition of 600 tonnes per day dry process plant.

In the past, the government found that MCCL had to face the crisis due to the presence of a large number of employees, which caused a financial burden on the state-owned company.

On June 7, 2016, the Meghalaya cabinet had approved a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) in which 145 out of 445 employees of the MCCL had opted for VRS. The state government had also earmarked Rs 22.3 crore to facilitate the employees to retire voluntarily in order to revamp the MCCL.