Protest Gathers Momentum Over Closure of Sewa Paper Mill, With Bandh Call Issued in Jeypore Seeking Immediate Government Intervention for Revival

Jeypore , May 27:  A decision has been taken to observe a 12-hour shutdown in Jeypore town and nearby areas of Koraput district on May 28, demanding the reopening of the Sewa Paper Mill located at Gaganapur near Jeypore.

The paper mill has remained non-operational for nearly two years, and employees have reportedly not been receiving their salaries. Retired employees have also not been paid their retirement benefits. Despite repeated appeals to the state government, the Chief Minister, and the Industries Minister, no concrete action has been taken.

Under the leadership of former minister Rabinarayan Nanda, a meeting involving representatives of various political parties and organizations was held on Saturday evening at Ruturaj Kalyan Mandap in Jeypore. During the meeting, a joint action committee comprising several organizations decided to organize the shutdown on May 28.

The Sewa Paper Mill, the only paper mill in Koraput district, had remained closed for many years before being revived in 2023 following a change in ownership. However, it has once again remained shut for the last two years.

Jeypore MLA Tara Prasad Bahinipati, former minister Rabinarayan Nanda, and workers’ and employees’ unions have repeatedly met the Chief Minister, Industries Minister, and senior state government officials to demand the reopening of the mill and payment of pending salaries. However, no positive outcome has been achieved so far.

Retired employees of the paper mill have reportedly been staging symbolic protests for more than 700 days, but their demands remain unresolved. Therefore, political parties, lawyers, traders, and various organizations of Jeypore have collectively decided to intensify the agitation for reopening the mill.

Among those present at the meeting were former vice-chairman of the municipality Suryanarayan Rath, former CPI district secretary Justik Raula, Jeypore Chamber of Commerce president Sanjay Kumar Jain, Bar Association secretary Sahadev Pattnaik, Durga Prasad Mishra, Dr. Indira Nanda, municipal vice-chairperson B. Sunita, Bala Ray, Mahendra Adhikari, Har Prasad Mishra, Ram Prasad Gantayat, Dharmendra Adhikari, A. Srinivas Rao, Shilpa Pani, office-bearers of the employees’ union, and several intellectuals and representatives of different organizations from the town.