Ramanathapuram
Minister for Information Technology M. Manikandan has handed over Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) to 145 entrepreneurs for setting up new industries involving total investment of ₹ 109 crore, ahead of the Global Investors’ Meet (GIM), scheduled to be held in Chennai on January 23 and 24, 2019.
Addressing a preparatory meeting for the GIM organised by the District Industrial Centre (DIC) and chaired by Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao here on Saturday, he said the proposed new industries would be established by small and medium scale sector in the district. “Of the ₹200-crore investment target fixed for this backward district, we have achieved ₹109 crore, which deserves commendation,” he said.
Stating that the district was poised for bigger developments in the coming years, he said the district was on top in the list for getting air connectivity under the Centre’s UDAN – regional airport development and regional airport connectivity scheme. As nearly one lakh people in the district were employed in foreign countries and about one crore tourists and pilgrims visited Rameswaram island every year, the district was placed on top for the project, he said. The airport was being developed at INS Parundu, the Indian naval air station at Uchipuli but the project was getting delayed, he said.
Similarly, the district, with 700-bed government headquarters hospital, should have got a medical college long back but the college was given to neighbouring Sivaganga district due to political reasons. He has taken up the issue with Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister and urged them to announce Medical college for the district in the state budget for 2019-2020. He was hopeful the government would concede the demand, he added.
Mr. Manikandan said an Information Technology Park was being established in Special Economic Zone in the district in 25 acres. He had already announced the project in the assembly and the work would begin soon, he added. The government also proposed to establish Textile Park and dyeing unit in the district, he said. The process of identifying 215 acre site has already commenced.
