P R E S S R E L E A S E
 

Dunlop Board favours resumption of partial operations at Sahaganj
 

Kolkata, 21 October: In a meeting of the Board of Directors of Dunlop India Ltd. held today it was observed that a revised product mix was required for sustained viability of operations at the Sahaganj plant of the Company. The Board therefore has decided to initially engage the plant in production of the Industrial Product (IP) like Hoses, Conveyer Belts and related items. The company will also make efforts to procure orders for OTR (large) tyres. Meanwhile the company will appoint one of the leading independent consultants of the country for their recommendations on the production capability of the plant and optimum manpower required for the production of the above-mentioned items.
 

Accordingly, it has been decided that the suspension of operation at the Sahaganj plant of the Company will be partially withdrawn as soon as power supply to the plant is restored. The workers will be called back in a phased manner, starting with the engineering team for IP division. The team will start refurbishing the machineries of the IP division necessitated by large scale thefts in the plant and the refurbishment is expected to go the extent of replacing / rectifying the existing boiler.
 

The high-cost of conversion at the Sahaganj plant needs to be brought down. The Board of Directors of Dunlop India Ltd once again observed that a co-generation power plant of 50 MW will substantially bring down the conversion cost and make the plant perennially viable. The Detailed Project Report and the application for environmental clearance have already been submitted to the Government of West Bengal. The Board has appealed to the government for an expeditious approval of the project, crucial for the revival of the Sahaganj plant.
 

The Board has expressed its deep concern about the unauthorised occupants at the Dunlop Estate of Sahaganj and the unabated number of theft cases. The Directors reiterated that for any further investment at the Sahaganj plant,improvement of the law and order situation was imperative and urged the government for its kind assistance.
 

For clarifications, please call: Mr Dhrubajyoti Nandi, Vice President: CorporateCommunication, Ruia Group at +91 33 2289 5203 or +91 98310 56023.