Skip to content Skip to navigation

Financial loot under industrial policy: Akhil Gogoi

By Peter Alex Todd |

RTI activist and general secretary of Krisak Mukti Sangram Samity ,Akhil Gogoi, today at a press conference stated along with documents, the unprecedented financial loot being done by a section of business men under the umbrella of North East industrial policy. The activist said that Business man Kailash Lohia, owner of Meghalaya cement and Topcem in Assam, has looted crores of money under subsidy scheme in the name of setting up Industry in the North east, that is not benefiting the public nor the government, instead the state of Assam is losing huge revenue.

To be specific, Akhil Gogoi, said that the businessmen Kailash Lohia, has set up just a grinding unite of “TOPCEM cement” in Assam, in the name of setting of industry, and that only row materials from Meghalaya Cement Industry is brought for mixing here in Assam. While earlier the Assam government use to get revenue for bringing the finish cement product for sell in Assam, but now since only the raw material is brought, the government don’t get any revenue instead the government have to pay subsidy to the company under North -East Industrial policy.

The capital investment of TOPCEM is Rs. 122 crore, while the company has earned Rs.150 subsidy in one year from Government of India and Assam government, besides getting 142 crore and 22 laks subsidy from Meghalaya Cement between the year 2003 to 2013 under subsidy. Its the same Cement Industry with different names with better subsidy benefit for the owner. In this industry 86 number of people are being employed among which 59 are labours. The Interesting fact is that the cement company pays 36 paise tax per bag Cement to the Assam government while it extracts Rs.35 per bag cement form buyers. Amidst subsidy the price of Cement in North East is more that of Kolkata, Delhi and Mumbai. In the year 2012, the subsidies that the TOPCEM cement got from the government ,is Rs. One Crore rebate from Income Tax, Rs.20 Lak from Electricity department,50% off for Generator, and Rs 90 crore 30 Laks transport subsidy. The total subsidy money comes from Central and the state government. Here, a big question is being asked by Akhil Gogoi, whether this type Industry will really help the government of the people in general, “do we need such industry”? Questioned the activist in the press conference.

Akhil Gogoi, also highlighted the on going land scam in the name of Industrialisation which the cement company is involved with. He says , “it is perhaps the biggest land scam in the country, 4000 Bighas of land being taken over from various people local people under Kamrup Metro, by the Cement industry owner. And the lands being purchased from the farmers at very low price” The purchased land will be used for various purpose like real estates development etc. However as per law the Agricultural land has to be used only for agricultural related Industry and cannot be used for other industrial purpose except industry relating to Agriculture. Construction of flats in these purchased lands have already been started. The alleged businessmen are also evading tax payment form the lands they have owned, since lands have not been shown as commercial lands thus the owners are paying less tax. The setting of cement industry has also overlooked the cement factory norms. A cement factory unit cannot be set up amidst population settlement and thus a particular distance has to be maintained, which is not in the case of TOPCEM. Besides the unit has been set up under the green belt area. The KMSS secretary also named Ram Avatar Bhurakia, Suresh Pithani, Monoj Kumar Pithani, along with Kailash Lohia, all Business men involved in various scams.

Akhil Gogoi highlighted the documents relating a case on subsidy issue that has already been filed in the CBI court, under case number RC5 (A)11-Guwahati, against Lohia by North Eastern Coal field , Coal India Ltd. due to loss of Rs.15,50,25,135 incured by the coal India, because of diversion of Coal by M S Meghalaya Cement Ltd to M/S K D Coke Jorabat. Besides the Ascard Bank has also filed case against Pithani’ss for forgery relating to Tube well set up.

Akhil Gogoi, is however hopeful that the land accusation by the Lohia will go the public way, after the DC (Kamrup rural) has sent notification to the Circle officer, stating that using Agricultural Land for non-Agricultural after purchase though the Business men (Lohia’s and Pithani’s) have given the affidavit that purchase land will be used for Agricultural purpose, thus violating government norms, asking to submit a report on the matter.

 

Add new comment

Random Stories

Major explosion misses Radhani Exp target

24 Dec 2008 - 2:57pm | editor
Hundreds of passengers at the Rajdhani Express got rid of a major tragedy when a powerful bomb missed the target at Matipul in Karbi Anglong district in the wee hours on Wednesday. According to...

Irate public demand action against PWD officials and contractors

26 Mar 2009 - 4:00pm | Jayanta Kumar Das
People of Naharbari village under Kalaigaon revenue circle have raised allegations against PWD officials and contractors for misappropriation of huge amount of money amounting several lakhs of rupees...

Declaration of tea as the national drink can in no way be termed as at the cost of coffee: NETA

18 May 2012 - 12:35pm | Ritupallab Saikia
Reacting over the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia’s statement on Rajya Sabha yesterday regarding the issue of declaring Tea as National Drink of India,...

Assam police officers association demands settlement of grievances

23 May 2015 - 6:43pm | Hantigiri Narzary
The Assam Police Officers Association demanded early solutions of their various grievances including pay hike through 6th pay commission across the state. The association held its executive...

Other Contents by Author

A Bihu of hope amidst dejection, Garbhanga Forest

Far from the hustle and bustle of Guwhati life and amidst ongoing big Bihu functions, a small Bihu function in Jalukpaham village, inside Garbhanga Reserve forest had swung the local tribal population into action in the day break on 24th April. A function perhaps the locals had never imagined in their wildest dreams and for sure perhaps someday this will be one of the sweetest memories in the history for these local people of Jalukpaham and Matang village. And for many aged people this Bihu celebration is the finest live entertainment they have ever seen in their life time. Most of the people have not even seen Guwahati, don’t know about the chief minister, but luckily some have heard...

Himanta Bishwa Sharma, trying to break the jinx

Whatever had been the distribution of the portfolio in the hatric Congress government, the fact that Dr. Himanta Bishwa Sharma, was given the education including health portfolio, was enough for the general people to be happy, first to see some more progress in the health department and expecting the same in the Education department which is considered being one of the worst department in the state. After the new portfolio as education minister, perhaps the education department officials had made their minds to face the music of the minister but were little casual too. Thus the minister’s sudden visit to the DPI office at Kahilipara had come as a big surprise to the ever casual and...

Akhil's protest resembles Maoist tactics, says Tarun Gogoi

Assam’s hatric Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, at a press conference on Tuesday said that Akhil Gogoi's protest on 22nd June, against eviction drive resembles to maoist tactics and this was evident from the fact that the protestors were carrying sticks and stone on their hands. Though the Chief Minister didn’t link directly Akhil Gogoi to the maoist, he did say that there are members in the Krisak Mukti Sangram Samity organization having maoist links. He had referred about two persons that were arrested last year. It is time to make sure that while on protest carrying sticks in hands will resemble a maoist protest. Thus anywhere in the world if protestors clash with the police...

Akhil Gogoi arrested, Government’s hypocrisy exposed

The Tarun Gogoi led government, have managed to come to power for the third time, and perhaps there was a lot of expectations from the people. The chief minister had himself said that the absence of opposition I the assembly means more responsibility and sincerity for the congress government, and thus no scope for anarchy. No doubt The people in general take the words of Tarun Gogoi at face value for his good image, but for a section of people, never in their wildest dreams they might have imagined what waited ahead of the new Government would be a hell raiser that would shake them mentally, and boil their bloods to the extreme. “EVICTION” a word that brings nightmare for...

Muay Thai boxing camp in Guwahati

A “MUAY THAI” boxing camp concluded in Guwahati recently, at noonmati where participants from all over north east had participated including referee and other officials. The camp was organised under Muay Thai Federation of India registered under International Federation of Muay Thai Amature. It was very encouraging for the participants to have the President of Muay Thai Federation of India, Oken Jeet Sandham, who is also the Vice-Chairman of IFMA. The Camp in Guwahati, was a short of Introduction to the Muay Thai Boxing, the game is gaining ground in India and in the North East well. This Game started in Manipur in India and gradually spreaded in 28 states in India. As far as...

Bob Dylan’s Birth Day celebration in Guwahati

Legendry Poet, singer and composer Bob Dylan was given a salute by fans on his 7Oth Birth Day at Café Hendrix, organized by “The great Dylan society” (Guwahati Chapter) in Guwahati, thus joining the league of Dylan’s birthday celebration. In shillong Bob Dylan’s birthday celebration spearheaded by singer Low Mojaw have already reached a great height that needs no introduction to the world. It was the 39th celebration this year. Dylan birthday in Shillong has hosted since 1972, the year Meghalaya attained statehood. The maiden celebration of Bob Dylan’s birthday at Cafe Hendrix, have brought hopes of good and meaningful music for music lovers in general....

Assam Election 2011: Congress government and the new opposition

After the congress Tsunami in the 20011 election that left the political opposition horror-struck, now the million dollar question is about the functioning of the new government. Will the congress govern wisely? No Socrates and thus no philosopher kings, yet some feel that congress will do justice and corruption level will come down to some extent as because the congress has already looted for 10 years, on the other hand some feels, had the AGP came to power, corruption would have started right from the word “GO”. Million people with million minds will have various opinions, but in general people want a corruption free government and less burden of tax. However a taxi driver...

Assam Election 2011: The rise of AIUDF, “who is Tarun Gogoi?

The Congress under the leadership of Tarun Gogoi, may have created history in the 2011 election but alongside more negative history have been written too. The marginalization of the AGP and the rise of AIUDF, which is perhaps of more serious concern in nature for the state of Assam. The fact that Tarun Gogoi had once said “Who is Baddaruddin” might have yielded good results for the congress but nevertheless it had demoralized the AIUDF, instead the AIUDF had hit congress harder than any one had expected. No doubt that the AIUDF is a sister party of the Congress and the sentiments of the scrapping of the IMDT had paved its way for revolting against the congress. Thus Tarun...

Assam election 2011: people’s mandate for development overlooking corruption

The comeback of congress to regain power for the third time in Assam under the leadership of Tarun Gogoi was not at all unexpected, but the margin of the result was unexpected by and large. The Big question is how the congress managed to get seats even beyond their imagination. The last time before the counting APCC president, Bhubeneshwar Kalita's prediction was 70 seats and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi,s prediction was 65 to 70 seats. But the people of the state had more surprise for the congress that no one had imagined; Exit polls had feared to cross the mark of 70 presuming it would be bias to go beyond the limited mark. Congress party workers at Rajiv Bhawan were stunt to see...

Assam Governments laptop politics

Fallen from grace very gracefully and the laptops are ready to operate now. It was very unsatisfactory to hear some senior journalist saying if Journalist can travel on government concessions in trains, book flats and avail government facilities why not laptops. Will some one explain whether journalist are not common people and are not subjects of the country, do they don’t vote? Government facilities of traveling in train in concession can never be an excuse for, accepting laptops gracefully at a time which is too odd and any layman can understand this and have an impression. It is simply like inviting a friend to have breakfast in the dead of night. I believe the friend would be...