INDIA group leaders demand resurrection, modernization, and working capital for HEC
Delegation meets Jharkhand governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, presents memorandum with demands
A delegation of INDIA group leaders demanded resurrection, modernization, and working capital for the struggling Ranchi-based PSU Heavy Engineering Corporation (HEC) in a memo that was delivered to Jharkhand governor C.P. Radhakrishnan on Wednesday.
The INDIA group leaders had earlier this month held an agitation at Raj Bhavan and filed a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi through the governor with the same demands. They also sought to pay the outstanding salary of HEC officials and staff.
Along with HEC employees and engineers, INDIA bloc leaders conducted an agitation last week near Jantar Mantar in Delhi, and JMM Rajya Sabha member Mahua Maji brought up the subject of unpaid HEC employees' salary in Parliament. She also provided proof of previous standing committee resolutions for the resurrection of HEC to the Rajya Sabha speaker.
Mahua Maji, former Union minister and senior Congress leader Subodh Kant Sahay, CPI's Ajay Singh, JMM's Mustaque Alam, and HEC union head Kamlesh Singh were also on the team of INDIA bloc leaders that met with the governor.
The email notes that HEC is the largest integrated engineering complex in the nation with a superior design, engineering, and manufacturing foundation. It is a completely owned government of India firm.
The letter reminds the governor of HEC's support for Chandrayaan-3 and Isro's Aditya L1 solar project and states that HEC also built the project's launchpad. The letter mentions HEC's assistance in establishing the Bhilai, Rourkela, Bokaro, and Salem facilities for steel-monster SAIL.
"All the high-power committees, including the Koshiyari Committee, the V.K. Saraswat Committee, and several parliamentary standing committees reports (which were submitted with the memorandum), have firmly advocated for the modernization of HEC and its efficient operation.
The memorandum stated that modern HEC will be the key to such huge industrialization in order to achieve the central government's new aim of making India a developed country by 2047.
"Despite getting several orders, HEC is in a terminal situation since modernization has not occurred. HEC is unable to complete orders because working capital is unavailable as a result of the bank guarantee's closure.
