VIKRAM NAYAK
VASCO
For nearly five decades, an iconic agro-chemical factory named after Goa’s biggest river not only provided employment to lakhs of people over the years, but even went on to change the demographic and cultural landscape of Sancoale with massive settlements developing around the factory.
News that the Zuari Agro Chemicals Limited (ZACL) had shutdown operations and production since the last one month has come as a shock to several people in Mormugao taluka who have had an emotional connect with the factory, with many of them recalling with pride the company’s glorious past and hoping it would return to its former glory.
ZACL was founded by eminent Indian industrialist Late Dr K K Birla in 1967 and the manufacturing operations started in 1974.
Speaking to The Goan, many recalled how a barren plateau at Sancoale transformed into a densely populated area called Zuari Nagar, given its association with the ZACL, which is now home to over 10,000 people, numerous businesses and small shops, markets, bus stops and even a special police check post in the area.
Worried as hundreds from Cortalim constituency work at ZACL: Alina
VASCO : Expressing sadness over the situation at ZACL, Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha said several factors, some of which were beyond control, had led to the present situation at the company.
“ZACL management had met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and me on two different occasions,” said Saldanha. “The CM is very concerned about the situation and has promised to do everything in his power to help ZACL return to normalcy. I’m worried because there are hundreds of youth from my constituency working in ZACL and support their families.”
“I cannot imagine what these youth would do should ZACL close down. I don’t think this will happen because everybody at the ZACL management is focused on overcoming hurdles in the way. I want to assured the ZACL management that I will pursue the matter with the CM, who has already assured to help the company get its subsidy partly released,” said Saldanha.
