Multi-pronged Expansion

Multi-pronged Expansion Hansavivek BALLARPUR PAPER has undertaken a programme of large expansion and diversification. The company is setting up a newsprint mill with a capacity of 200 tonnes per day in Himachal Pradesh. The industrial licence granted to Shree Gopal Paper has been revalidated in the company's name. A 50- year lease agreement has been signed with the state government for the supply of raw materials whereby 57,00,000 eft of standing fir and spruce would be made available to the company annually. Discussions are going on with manufacturers of equipment for mechanical handling, logging and transportation. The company has concluded an agreement with Benilite of America under which the latter has granted the company the technical knowhow to use BCA cyclic process for the production of beneficiated ilmenite which would be a part of the overall titanium complex proposed to be set up in Kerala, The 'letter of intent' for the caustic soda chlorine project at Karwar has been converted into an industrial licence. Licence for import of plant and machinery has been received, and financial arrangements for the imports have been made. Indications are that the plant would be commissioned in early 1974. Meanwhile, the capacity of the plant is being sought to be increased from 100 tonnes to 150 tonnes per day.