Company pulls back from Rs 300-cr salt mining project

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 26

A financial crisis has forced Hindustan Salts Limited (HSL), a central public sector enterprise, to pull back from the proposed Rs 300-crore solution mining rock salt project at Darang in Mandi district, which was under way.

It is a big blow to the expectations of the youth of the Darang area in Mandi, who were expecting employment opportunities because of the project. During the Lok Sabha elections, it was a major issue in the region and MP Ramswaroop Sharma had assured the people of Mandi district that the project would be an opportunity for the youth of the region.

The state government had given land to HSL on lease and the company started working on the project in 2016.

Officials of HSL are mum over the issue even as the state government has started the process to take over the project.

Talking to The Tribune, the Mandi MP said due to financial crunch, HSL had pulled back from the project.

The project was first proposed in 2010. However, natural salt mines in the Gumma and Drang areas of Mandi were shut down in January 2011 owing to certain lapses on part of HSL.