GUWAHATI: In a move that has sparked outrage among the local community, ITC Limited has sold the land of the historic match factory in Dhubri, Assam, which has remained inactive since 1997, to another company for an amount of ₹74.25 crore, as per reports.
This development has triggered protests as residents are determined to preserve their heritage and revive the once-thriving industry.
According to media reports, ITC Limited sold 110 bighas of land from the Match Factory to M/s Kamrup Ice and Cold Storage Co., represented by Rohit Kumar Deorah, a partner from Guwahati.
The land sale transaction was registered at the office of the Senior Sub Registrar in Dhubri on May 23, 2023, for a total sum of ₹74,25,92,000.
The land was divided into five parts and sold accordingly to the company, which operates from Guwahati.
The match factory, established in 1925 by a Swedish company and later acquired by ITC in 2001, held significant historical and cultural importance for the region. It served as a vital source of employment and a matter of pride for the local community, producing renowned brands like LOTA and BULLOCK CART.
Notably, it was also the first industry in Assam to commemorate Labour Day in 1935, employing over 3,000 workers at its peak.
However, the factory had to cease operations in 1997 due to a Supreme Court ban on tree felling in forest areas. Since then, the factory has been left abandoned and neglected. Local residents had hoped that ITC would develop the area or establish a new industry, but the company has taken no action even after acquiring the land two decades ago, media reports stated.
The news of the land sale came to light when a team of four individuals arrived on Thursday to measure the factory land. Led by the WIMCO Bachao Committee, the locals prevented them from conducting the measurements and staged a protest at the factory gate, as per reports.
Allegations have also surfaced that the land was secretly divided into five parts and sold without informing the public, further fueling the outrage, media reports stated.
As per reports, protesters are demanding immediate intervention from the state and central governments to revive the historic match factory or establish a new industry on the premises. They have been submitting memorandums to various ministers, leaders, and officials from different departments for an extended period, urging them to save the land and the factory.