Southern States - Kerala   

TRL revival: Govt. to seek consensus

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI JUNE 26. After more than two years of deliberations, the Chief Minister, A. K. Antony, has decided to seek consensus among components of the ruling United Democratic Front, the feuding factions within the Congress and the Opposition Left Democratic Front regarding the revival of the Travancore Rayons Limited (TRL).

According to sources, this was the reason why the Chief Minister, on Wednesday, sought written opinion from the departments concerned on the revival proposal submitted by the Coimbatore-based Dinosaur Industries Limited.

Wednesday's Cabinet meeting also set aside the report of the "enlarged Cabinet sub-committee'' that was entrusted with the task of studying the proposals of the private promoter.

The recommendations of the Cabinet sub-committee was finalised at its sitting on May 28.

One of the reasons why the Chief Minister had sought to tread the consensus path was the raging controversy over the Government move to let a private company mine for mineral sand in Alappuzha district.

Critics of the Government, however, pointed out that the proposal for revival was submitted two years ago and that the "consensus path'' was only a ploy to postpone a decision on the TRL, one of the oldest industrial units in the State.

They feel that the mineral sand-mining controversy had come handy for the Government at this juncture.

Sensing this, the official trade union representing the workers at the rayons unit - Rayons Samrakshana Samithy, has decided to impress the various segments of the ruling front on the urgency of the situation.

The Samrakshana Samithy is a trade union combine cutting across the political and factional divides. The Samithy members, led by the former Speaker, P. P. Thankachan, and Perumbavoor MLA, Saju Paul (CPI-M), held discussions with the UDF convener and the Minister for Industries, P. K. Kunhalikutty, on Wednesday.

At the same time, the Samithy has sought to mediate between the potential private promoter and the industries department so that they could meet half way. he intricacies involved in approving the proposals were one of the reasons why there had been no consensus among the various departments that were consulted on TRL revival.

From tax sops to cheaper electricity, none of the departments seem ready to cede any ground as far as financial commitments are concerned.

However, the promoters are understood to come down from the initial demands although issues related to deferred payment of electricity charges sales tax arrears still remain.

Sources said that it was for considering these issues that the Government pressed for more time from the Kerala High Court before which the issue was to come up on June 27.

With one month's time available, only a bold decision on the part of the Government can pave the way for opening the rayons unit.

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