Revival of the now defunct Salem airport and speeding up the works on the IT Park in the city have been two major issues pressed by all sections of the society in Salem district for the past many years.
With ‘Edappadi’ K. Palaniswami, hailing from the district assuming charge as Chief Minister of the State, the hopes of the people of the district in general and the trade and industry, in particular, in implementing the above vital projects have got revived. They are hopeful that the new Chief Minister will take effective steps for the overall development of the industrial front.
It is the different traders’ and industrial bodies which have been in the forefront in demanding various projects for the promotion of industries in the district. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has been leaving no stone unturned for speeding up the works of the IT Park promoted by ELCOT.
P. Vimalan, Chairman, CII Salem, while congratulating Mr. Palaniswami on assuming the coveted post, said that the revival of Salem airport, commissioning of the IT Park and also the Special Economic Zone will go a long way in getting more industrial projects to the district, which in turn will immensely help in improving the economic condition of its citizens.
K. Mariappan, president, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Salem, too congratulated Mr. Palaniswami and urged him to accord top priority for the revival of the Salem airport, lying unused for the past many years, by giving commitment letter on behalf of the State Government to implement regional connectivity service (RCS) to connect inter-city flight services with an assurance to contribute 20 per cent of the viable gap funds (VGF) to meet the loss of flight operators whenever they are unable to make break-even recovery.
The State Government should come forward to provide the police security and fire and rescue services free of cost to the airport, besides providing water and electricity at a concessional rate for the operation of the airport.
The decision of the Centre to privatise the Salem Steel Plant has shocked the entire Tamil community. Mr. Mariappan called upon the Chief Minister to stall the Centre’s move in a similar way as former Chief Minister late Jayalalithaa did on the Neyveli Lignite Corporation issue by purchasing its shares.
There is about 2,500 acres of surplus and unutilised vacant land in the Salem Steel Plant campus. On the lines of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments, this surplus land can be taken back by the State Government for the establishment of special economic zone and also promote industrial hub exclusively for the production of stainless steel products. The vacant space can also be used for establishing integral coach factory to manufacture stainless steel railway coaches on an eco-friendly basis. The Salem District Small-Scale and Tiny Industries Association has demanded setting up of an industrial estate exclusively for the MSME units at the poramboke land available adjacent to the IT Park.
M.V. Sellamuthu, general secretary of the association, said that about 110 acres of poramboke land was available near the IT Park and the MSME units have been demanding an industrial estate for the last one decade. He also pleaded for a skill training centre for imparting training to unemployed youths.
