Guntur-based Bajrang Jute Mill, one of the oldest and largest composite jute mills in Andhra Pradesh, reopened this week after remaining under lockout for more than two years.

Doubts, however, remain on the future of the mill as it was reopened under pressure from the State government, which had issued a GO directing the management to do so.

Scepticism Both the management and the workers expressed scepticism over the future of the mill.

“It will not be possible to run the mill in the present circumstances. The workforce is not willing to cooperate with the management in modernising the mill and operations have become untenable,” a mill official said.

The mill was placed under lockout on July 4, 2015, and since then the workers have been agitating for its reopening.

A Jute Mill Parirakshana (protection) Committee was formed by the workers and pressure was exerted by the ruling Telugu Desam Party and the State government on the management to reopen it.

‘Land sale eyed’ Workers allege that the management is not interested in running the mill as they want to dispose of the prime land in Guntur town.

With Amaravati in Guntur district becoming the new capital city, real estate prices have shot up in Guntur, Vijayawada, Tenali, Managalagiri and other towns in Krishna and Guntur districts.

The mill, if it runs to capacity, needs 2,500-3,000 workers. The management also runs Sri Krishna Jute Mill at Eluru in West Godavari district and another jute mill in the same district.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW