MCF Union staged huge rally on October 7

MCF Union staged huge rally on October 7

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Oct 08, 2014:  A large number of employees under the banner of  "MCF Mangala Workers Union" staged a protest against the Central government’s move to discontinue subsidy to the Naphtha based fertiliser manufacturing units from October 1, in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office on October 7 fore noon. The protesters took out a procession from Light House Hill to the DC’s office.  The placards displayed by the protesters urged the government to save  fertiliser manufacturing unit to help farmers.

 

 

 

 

 

Addressing the protesters, Union President K N Suryanarayana said “through the protest we are appealing to the government to continue the present system of the subsidy till the gas connectivity and supply is established. If the government fails to provide relief to the MCF, then the livelihood of over 2,000 families will be at stake.” “When the Union government hinted on the New Pricing Scheme for urea manufacturing units that urged the management to shift from naphtha-based unit to gas based production, the MCF had invested Rs 305 crore for the machineries. However, the gas supply to the unit has not commenced. The GAIL had come forward to supply gas to the MCF from Kochi-Mangalore-Bangalore gas pipeline. However, owing to the stiff protest from the locals, the gas supply could not be initiated.” The government should save the lone mega fertiliser industry with the established ‘Mangala brand’ which is popular among the farmers, Suryanarayana added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had introduced the concept of ‘Make in India’ to encourage setting up of industries. Now, the government must listen to our plea, as MCF is an industry producing urea that is popular among the farmers.

Yashoda Ullal, an employee also requested the government to continue with the subsidy until gas connectivity is established.

A memorandum was submitted to the DC to be forwarded to all authorities concerned and take necessary steps to restart the plant operations immediately  to avoid misery to several people in many walks of life.