Revive Cachar Paper Mill or let Barak Valley dream die, JACRU warns Assam govt ahead of mega investment summit

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaFebruary 21, 2025

With the highly anticipated Advantage Assam 2.0 Investment and Infrastructure Summit just days away, the Joint Action Committee of Recognised Union (JACRU) of Cachar & Nagaon Paper Mills has issued a desperate plea to the Assam government—revive the long-defunct Cachar Paper Mill or risk stalling the economic aspirations of Barak Valley.

Located at Panchgram in Hailakandi district, Cachar has been non-operational since March 2015. The mill was a unit of the Hindustan Paper Corporation Limited (HPCL), a Central PSU, but now under the custody of Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AUDC), a state government undertaking.

In a memorandum sent to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, JACRU president Manobendra Chakraborty emphasized that while the state is making rapid strides toward industrial expansion—including the much-publicized Tata semiconductor project at Nagaon Paper Mill worth Rs 27,000 crore—Barak Valley continues to be left behind.

JACRU reminded the Chief Minister of his July 7, 2022, promise to revive the Cachar Paper Mill, a commitment that has remained unfulfilled. Despite the region’s strategic advantages—including abundant raw materials, railway connectivity, and a skilled workforce—no concrete action has been taken, leaving the people of Barak Valley in limbo.

India’s growing paper demand and rising import costs only add to the urgency. According to an IPMA report, India imported 19.3 lakh tonnes of paper in FY 2023-24, a 34% surge from the previous year, putting pressure on foreign currency reserves. JACRU argues that reviving Assam’s paper industry is not just a regional necessity but a national economic imperative, aligning with the goals of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.

According to JACRU, the revival of Cachar Paper Mill would not only reduce import dependency but also create thousands of jobs, boost local bamboo-based industries, and breathe new life into the region’s economy. The organization urged the Chief Minister to show the same determination that helped secure the semiconductor project for Nagaon and ensure equal industrial development in Barak Valley.

“We trust your bold leadership will take swift action. The people of Barak Valley cannot wait any longer,” the memorandum stated, urging immediate intervention ahead of Advantage Assam 2.0 on February 25-26.