Panchkula: A protest was observed in Pinjore on Tuesday to demand the reopening of the HMT tractor plant, which was shut down in 2016. Demands raised included steps to improve the financial health of the machine tools factory, and the establishment of new industrial units within the HMT complex.The protest was held at the HMT gate under the aegis of the HMT Bachao Sangharsh Samiti. The area resonated with slogans of “Save HMT, Save Jobs”.Varun Chaudhary, Congress MP from the Ambala Lok Sabha constituency, attended the protest as the chief guest.Samiti patron and advocate Vijay Bansal submitted a memorandum to the MP, requesting him to raise the issue in Parliament and urge the central govt to reopen the HMT tractor plant or establish a major industrial unit on the premises.The MP questioned why around 446 acres of land within the HMT complex had not been properly utilised and emphasised the need to resume industrial activities there. He also called for the establishment of a state-of-the-art skill development centre to provide employment-oriented training to local youth.Chaudhary expressed concern over the financial condition of the HMT Machine Tools unit, noting that despite the availability of work and orders, sufficient funds were not being provided.Bansal stated that a special package of Rs 1,083 crore for HMT was approved at a Cabinet Committee meeting on April 18, 2013. According to him, the package included provisions for salary hikes for employees and an increase in the retirement age from 58 to 60 years.Bansal alleged that closure of the HMT tractor plant in 2016 resulted in substantial industrial and economic losses for Pinjore, Kalka and surrounding areas. He pointed out that although the tractor and machine tools divisions had work orders, production did not continue, hindering the optimal utilisation of existing industrial resources.Urging the central govt to take concrete steps to revive HMT, Bansal suggested that if restarting the tractor plant was not feasible, a major industrial establishment should be set up on the premises to generate employment for local youth and strengthen the regional economy.He also sought necessary permissions and support for the construction and improvement of roads connecting the HMT complex to Haryana Urban Development Authority (HUDA) sectors, the electricity substation and surrounding villages.During the protest, a delegation from the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Tikait) also submitted a memorandum to Chaudhary, seeking the establishment of a grain market for procurement and sale of wheat, paddy and maize at the site of the existing apple market within the HMT Pinjore complex.In 2016, the Union cabinet approved the closure of the HMT tractor unit in Pinjore and the disbursement of voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) benefits to all its employees. The tractor division was stated to be incurring financial losses.
