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State takes U-turn on textiles mill

CUTTACK: It seems Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is completely confused about the future of the closed Orissa Textiles Mill (OTM) that was set up by his father Biju Patnaik in Choudwar, about 15 km from here some 40 years ago. Taking a U-turn from its present stand, the State government on Friday filed an application before the High Court urging the latter for the second time in recent days to recall its order of selling the sick mill by the official liquidator.

The company court of the HC, however, has not taken any note of the government’s fresh application but said the matter would come up for hearing in due course.

The government’s recent move, however, has baffled everybody because the selling of the sick mill was almost final.

It may be recalled here that the selling of OTM to a Gujarat-based company was finalised in November 2006. The successful bidder had even deposited the entire bid amount.

But the government in January 2007 urged the HC to recall the sale order claiming that it (government) was considering revival of the sick mill. However, after six months, the government again informed the HC that it was not possible to revive the sick mill and it could be sold to interested private parties.

When the selling of the mill was nearing completion for second time, the government has once again committed a hara-kiri urging the HC to recall the sale order. This time too the government has claimed to revive the mill.

This indecisiveness of the government, however, is taking its toll on the former OTM employees who are on strike for over three years now demanding revival of the mill.

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