The Sahaganj unit of the Manu Chhabria-controlled beleaguered tyre major, Dunlop India Ltd, faces the threat of literal darkness following the company's inability to clear outstandings and the electricity bill for December, together amounting to over Rs 1 crore, to the West Bengal State Electricity Board (WBSEB).
In a notice to the Dunlop management (reference number 6/136 Hooghly/218A) dated January 24, WBSEB said: "We find that our falling bill for the month of December (Sahaganj) remains unpaid, presumably through oversight, for Rs 32,12,234."
The notice further states that unless the unpaid bill is cleared by February 3, WBSEB will be compelled to disconnect power from the company's premises, without any further reference to the company. The letter also states that apart from the December bill, there also remain outstanding dues from the company's side, amounting to Rs 79,35,291. This amount is supposed to be paid in instalments by the company. The notice also states: "Supply of energy to you (Dunlop Sahaganj unit) unless all dues to the board as well as Rs 600 for disconnection and reconnection are paid."
However, it has been known through sources that officials of the Dunlop works met the chairman of WBSEB, S R Sikdar, on Saturday, January 31, and requested the chairman not to cut power supply to Sahaganj.
Union sources at Sahaganj said: "We do not know what the outcome of the meeting will be. We will have to wait till tomorrow to find out."
He further said that if power supply is cut, then the workers residing in Dunlop will not only be plunged into darkness, but their water supply will also automatically stop.
"Law and order problems might arise, and for that we have already gone and notified the district magistrate and the superintendent of police," said a source.
The situation for Dunlop workers was bleak enough already.
The management has not been able to pay them timely wages for nearly three months now, work at the Sahaganj factory has come to a complete stand-still, and lately, the management has lately come to realise that the company will not be financially viable if the work force is not pruned.
Should WBSEB now stop the supply of electricity, then 1,800 residential quarters of where the Dunlop employees stay will be hurled into darkness that is no longer metaphorical, but literal.
