Salt Commosionrate allots 1,972 acres land to PSUs for industrial parks

The Salt Commissionerate has allotted 1,972 acres of salt land to various public sector companies in Tamil Nadu to put up industrial parks.

The NTPC Tamil Nadu Energy Company Ltd (NTECL), a joint venture between NTPC Ltd and Tamil Nadu Electricity Board has been allotted 1,000 acres, the Ennore Port Ltd 764 acres, HPCL 108 acres and BPCL 100 acres, said E M Sudharsana Natchiappan, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.

For instance, the allotted salt lands will be used to develop the Chennai-Bangalore Industrial Corridor, he told addressing the ‘India Salt Conclave 2014’, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in association with Salt Commissionerate and Indian Salt Manufacturers Association.

The minister urged the industry modernise salt production to global standards. The industry should think of technological upgradation, modernisation, mechanisation and value addition of salt, creation of supply chain and warehouses, and facilities in the port for scientific storage of salt for exports, he said.

Natchiappan also urged the industry to harness the solar power.

“We can seek support from public sector banks and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy,” he said.

According to Shubra Singh, Joint Secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said the Centre plans to introduce an insurance scheme for the welfare of around one lakh salt workers to offer standard health facilities.

Indian salt industry produced about 25 million tonnes (MT) of salt. Of this 6 MT was edible salt, 12 MT for industrial purpose and 5 MT was for export.

Out of 6 lakh acres of salt land, only 60,000 acres or 10 per cent belongs to the Salt Commissionerate in six states, including Gujarat and Tamil Nadu.

With nearly 90 per cent of salt production is being done by the private sector, they have a greater responsibility to modernise and do value addition, she said.

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