Strike halts Haldia Petrochem project

Conciliation proceedings for settlement of the charter of demand between HPL and HPL Contractors’ Workers Union held yesterday in the presence of the additional labour commissioner failed,following which the workers went on an indefinite strike from this morning,the statement added.

The strike call was given to press for wage revision and induction of temporary workers on the payroll.

“Around 1,500 contract workers have gone on strike,” CITU state general secretary Kali Ghosh told PTI here.

The HPL plant was undergoing synchronisation of the supermax project through a planned shutdown for 75 days to raise capacity from 5.2 lakh tonne per annum to 6.7 lakh tpa.

HPL had decided to set up the supermax project in 2006 with a target commissioning by October 2007,but later the company shelved it. However,the company revived the expansion plan and work resumed soon after.