Guwahati, Sep 29 (TIWN) The Assam government on Wednesday signed an agreement with the workers and employees of two paper mills owned by the government-run Hindustan Paper Corporation Ltd (HPCL) to resolve issues of their salaries and dues, pending for 56 months.

The discussion between the government and the unions of the two paper mills continued for over four hours at the office of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, following which the agreement was signed.  "Finally reached an agreement with the workers and employees of Hindustan Paper Corporation to resolve long pending issues of their salaries and dues. Discussion lasted for over four hours in my office and concluded at 2 a.m," Sarma tweeted.  Cachar Paper Mill at Panchgram in Hailakandi district is non-functional since October 2015, while Nagaon Paper Mill at Jagiroad in Morigaon district is shut since March 2017. Since the closure of the two mills, 95 employees died, including four allegedly taking their own lives, primarily due to lack of proper treatment as they did not receive salaries or dues for the last 55 months, according to the unions.  The agreement was signed by Sarma and Industries Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, and representatives of the employees' associations.