Ooty: AIADMK Rajya Sabha MP from the Nilgiris, Mr K.R. Arjunan, on Wednesday sought to know from the Centre why it had not taken a decision on reviving the ailing Hindustan Photo Films Manufuacturing Company (HPF), a Central public sector undertaking here.
Raising the issue in the Rajya Sabha, he said HPF was located in an industrially backward district of Nilgiris but it had the means to manufacture X-ray films for the health care and defence sectors.
A revival proposal for HPF, involving Rs 300 crore with one-time settlement of loans from government financial institutions and banks – was put up before the Union Cabinet in August 2012, Mr Arjunan pointed out. Expert opinion also recommended that this be taken up. But while other sick PSUs had been given sanctions, HPF was still languishing.
He said the department of heavy industry had failed to manage HPF, a PSU begun to establish the unique photographic science technology in India.
Its employees had not been paid properly. They were still receiving 1987 payscales while the work they put in was equal to that of any other PSU employee. They had not been paid even the minimum salary the last few months.
Mr Arjunan said he wanted an explanation why the government was lagging behind on a decision on HPF, “which is the only integrated photo film manufacturing unit in southeast Asia”.
