After JK, Emami halts production in Odisha

Balasore: After JK Paper, Emami Paper Mills Limited has shut its production in Odisha due to nationwide 21-day complete lockdown enforced to combat novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

Emami Paper Mills, the leading manufacturer of newsprint, writing and printing paper and multilayer coated board, has halted its operation at its Balasore unit following shortage of raw materials at the plant.

Under such extreme circumstances, the Company has instructed all its employees and workers to stay at home as part of precautionary measures to prevent spread of deadly virus.

On the other hand, hundreds of trucks loaded with raw materials for paper production have been stationed by a roadside adjacent to Emami plant in Balasore district.

Source said that the drivers of the trucks have fled the place out of coronavirus scare leaving the commercial vehicles along a road.

In view of rapid spread of coronavirus, the Company has sent all 3,000 regular and contractual employees on leave. Only 100 employees have been kept on premises of the plant for uninterrupted water supply service, electricity, sanitization and maintenance.

The Company with capacity of around 2 lakh MT produces 800 MT papers (newsprint) and packaging board per day. With closure of operation at Balasore unit, the industries especially print media will witness scarcity of papers to print newspapers during the period of lockdown.

Due to restriction on transport facility and cancellation of many orders, we have been directed to close the paper mill, informed Emami Paper Mills’ PRO Manoj Kumar Padhi.

“However, we have requested to the district administration to allow the vehicles carrying raw materials stranded at different places to the factory,” he said.

Earlier, JK Paper Ltd has shut its operation in Rayagada district from March 29 for enforcement of lockdown.