The Hindu Business Line : Land re-classification delay holds up industrial estate plan

THE delay on the part of the Tamil Nadu Government in notifying change in the classification of land — from agricultural land to industrial land — is holding up the formation of a private industrial estate, estimated to attract an investment of about Rs 15 crore and provide employment to around 1,000 persons, in Coimbatore district.

The estate, apart from housing industrial units in foundry, electroplating, automobile accessories, machining works, wet grinder spares etc, would also serve the purpose of easing the pollution problem within the city since some of the polluting industries located within the city are hoping to re-locate to the new site.

Speaking to Business Line, Mr S.A. Thooyamani, Chairman, Nethaji Industrial Estate Society and a Director in the Coimbatore Stock Exchange (CSX), said the society was formed in 1996 for promoting an industrial estate for about 100 members.

The society acquired nearly 56 acres of land in Devayampalayam village near Sarkar Samakulam in Coimbatore North taluk. Though the lands were classified as agricultural lands, because of the scattered nature of land holding and due to non- availability of irrigation water, there is no cultivation.

He said the society has secured the approval for change in classification of the land from the local panchayat, town panchayat, and the local town planning authorities. He said the Special Commissioner, Town and Country Planning had also recommended their case to the Government in 2002. But the approval from the Government is still being awaited.

Mr Thooyamani said some of the society members were running electroplating and foundry units within the city and they intend to move out since the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has been pressing them to move their units outside the city. The proposed estate was about 20 km away from Coimbatore city and it met the requirements specified by the government for establishing new industrial estates.

Mr Thooyamani said he expected around 100 units to be established in the new estate, with about 15 of them to come up immediately, once the clearance is given. The total investment could be around Rs 15 crore and the estate would provide employment to a minimum of 1,000 persons.

This would have many spin-off effects like promoting economic growth in the surrounding areas and bring additional revenue to the Government, apart from easing pollution within the city. The proposed industries were also not water-intensive.

He said the society has sought the intervention of the Chief Minister in getting the government clearance for land re-classification so that the members could commence work in starting units in the industrial estate.

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