Agartala, 29th July 2026 : The purpose behind setting up jute mills in Tripura was not achieved as the institutions were allegedly turned into centres of political influence, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy said on Wednesday.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP state headquarters, Roy blamed the previous Left Front government for the prolonged crisis faced by jute mill workers. He alleged that the mills suffered due to internal conflicts and “dominance politics” among workers during the earlier regime.
The Finance Minister claimed that although the approved manpower strength of the jute mill was 807 employees, the previous government appointed 2,253 workers, creating an unnecessary financial burden on the state.
He said the present government had to pay around Rs 220 crore to workers following court directions to clear pending dues. Roy stated that in 2003, the then Left Front government challenged the High Court’s order in the Supreme Court, but the apex court upheld the decision.
“Had the earlier government accepted the High Court verdict at that time, the financial liability would have been limited to around Rs 20–25 crore,” Roy claimed. He added that the Supreme Court’s direction to pay dues with 6 percent interest further increased the burden.
Accusing the CPI(M) of misleading workers and the public, the Finance Minister alleged that jute mill employees were denied their legitimate dues since 1996 under the previous government. He claimed that the decisions taken during the Left regime have forced the state to spend nearly Rs 1,000 crore from public funds.
Roy further announced that the state government has prepared plans to utilise the closed jute mill land for new development projects. Around 10 acres of the site will be used for an IT Park, which is expected to generate employment opportunities for nearly 2,000 educated youths.
He said plans are also underway to establish a Skill Development Centre and a Multi-Super Speciality Hospital at the location. The government is also exploring the possibility of auctioning the old machinery of the jute mill, which has remained unused for years.
The Finance Minister said the jute mill chapter in Tripura is gradually coming to an end and the land will be transformed into a new centre for employment generation and infrastructure development.
