Elgin-1 mill in cusp for a turnaround

KANPUR: The years' long wait for thousands of workers of Elgin-1 mill is expected to be over. With economic reform on the top of agenda for Manmohan inc, the prominent textile mill of yore can see a revival within next three months.
Inside sources confirm that the issue of re-opening will be pushed by city's MP Shri Prakash Jaiswal and if everything goes well, it is expected that the money will be sanctioned in the upcoming budget of the UPA government.
Jaiswal, who retained Kanpur LS seat in the recently concluded elections had promised the workers to re-open the mill once the model code of conduct got over in the city.
Talking to TOI, Arvind Raj Swaroop, a prominent trade union leader said, "For past two tenures as MP, Jaiswal has been promising the revival of sick industries. Hope this time it turns out more than a promise, as livelihood and sentiments of about 5,000 employees is attached with the mill."
There are four mills in the city owned by British India Corporation (BIC). Elgin-1, Elgin-2, Kanpur Textile and Lal Imli. While the first three specialised in textile production, the last one dealt with woollen.
To re-start Elgin-1 mill, a proposal was sent to BIFR (Board of Industrial Financial Reconstruction and Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE) for due approval and their objections to it, if any. BIFR is a board under the SICA (Sick Industries Companies Act) which looks after the cases of sick industries.
After getting the nod from BIFR, a detailed report was forwarded to the textile ministry in this regard. For almost a decade, the workers of BIC and NTC mills have been hoping for a revival of the mills.