Dunlop sees exodus of executives in last 7 months

kolkata: ailing tyremaker, dunlop india ltd, has been witnessing a spurt in the exodus of executives since january when production at the company stopped. dunlop sources said that at least 30 middle and senior level executives had left the company, now plunged in uncertainty, primarily due to the delay in bifr giving the nod to the draft rehabilitation scheme (drs).senior level executives had been changed in the industrial relations department of the company, with one putting in his papers and the new incumbent being deputed from the other chhabria group company, shaw wallace and company ltd. sources said that the level of exodus was of such magnitude that the entire corpus earmarked for gratuity had dried up, which is now to be replenished by selling assets included in the drs and awaiting bifr sanction. in the board meeting of the company held in mumbai on wednesday, it was decided that the registered and corporate office of dunlop be shifted to its factory premises in sahagung in the state. the other major reason for the flight of executives was non-payment of salaries for the last seven months, the sources said. despite the company stopping production at its two factories in sahagung in west bengal and ambattur in tamil nadu since january, it had not been possible for the management of dunlop to declare suspension of operations for the second time, which according to sources, was mainly due to the request from state government. meanwhile, the dunlop management had already conveyed to the head office about its desire to relocate administrative work to sahagunj unit from the present address on mirza ghalib street. sources said that this move was a prelude to mortgaging the two properties of dunlop india to the west bengal government for an immediate finance of rs 25 crore, which would be primarily used as working capital. although the dunlop management had fowarded its request to the state government in this regard long time back, the concerned ministry was yet to take a final decision. wholetime director of dunlop komal chhabria wazir and newly-appointed president t.c. goel also met the state industries minister nirupam sen soon after the new left front government assumed office in may.