Hindustan Paper Corporation

The planned development of the paper industry in India began only in the post-independence period. The growth, however, slowed down in the sixties owing to the escalation of cost and the scarcity of forest-based raw materials. The stagnation led to frequent shortages of cultural varieties of paper, causing hardship to common consumers. There were also the national task of developing the industrially backward regions for balanced socio-economic growth. It was against this background that the Government of India set up the Hindustan Paper Corporation (HPC) on May 29, 1970. HPC was entrusted with the task of producing substantial volumes of cultural varieties of paper and newsprint to maintain stability of price in a volatile market. Besides, it was designed to be a catalyst for industrial growth in the North-East. It was also engaged in the task of developing indigenous expertise for setting up large newsprint and paper mills. HPC group has four paper mills, two of which are units and two are subsidiary companies. HPC is the holding company for Hindustan Newsprint Ltd. (HNL) and Nagaland Pulp & Paper Company Ltd. (NPPC). Nagaon Paper Mill (NPM) and Cachar Paper Mill (CPM) function directly under HPC’s control and their performance is reflected in HPC’s operating results. Over a period of three decades, HPC has built up a total capacity of about 3.35 lakh tonnes of paper and newsprint.