November 17, 2001

'17A'

MANOHAR JOSHI REVIEWS WORKING OF SAMBHAR SALTS LTD

        Shri Manohar Joshi, Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises visited the Sambhar Salts Ltd (SSL) Sambhar lake today to see the salt manufacturing facility and functioning of public sector unit and to appreciate the problems faced by the company. The Management apprised the Minister of the multi-pronged strategy for the revival of the company which includes measures like installation of underground pumps to exploit the sub-soil brine, digging of bore wells, improving the quality of salt through R&D, setting up of a washery for 1.20 lakh tonnes of salt per annum capacity immediately to which a refinery of 60,000 tonnes p.a. capacity will be added, upgradation of salt for caustic soda plants based on membrane cell technology and restructuring of the unit.

        The visit by Shri Manohar Joshi to Sambhar Lake Unit is the first visit of a Cabinet Minister during the last decade. The Minister had a first hand appreciation of the efforts for revival of the company and assured the Unit of full support by the Central Government. The visit assumes particular importance as the Sambhar lake unit is geographically better situated to provide cheaper salt to the country than Gujarat Marine sources because it is much closer to most consumers particularly those in the north and the eastern sector.

        The financial performance of the Unit has been varying from profit to loss making, the main causes being the dwindling supply of rain water to Sambhar lake, increase in the wage bill after 5^th Pay Commission and the severe continuous drought from 1999 to 2001. The Minister was apprised of the current and prospective plans of the SSL to bring the company out of red. After having a first hand appreciation of the revival plans of the company Shri Joshi was convinced of good future prospects.