Amid opposition by some sections over the government’s decision to establish a paper board factory at Mondipatti in Chief Minister’s Srirangam constituency, several political parties have expressed their support for the multi-crore project.
At an all-party meeting held at Manapparai, representatives of various political parties in a resolution thanked the Chief Minister for announcing the establishment of the Rs.1, 200-crore paper board unit in the “backward and drought-hit” Manapparai taluk.
Functionaries of Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Bharatiya Janata Party, Congress, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Puthiya Tamizhagam attended the meeting that was presided over by the CPI district secretary T. Indrajit.
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While appreciating the announcement, the parties appealed to the State government to provide compensation as per market rate to those from whom lands would be acquired for setting up the unit on 989 acres at Mondipatti and K. Periyapatti.
They have also requested the government to provide employment for one person of those families from whom lands would be acquired. Further, priority should be accorded to youths of Manapparai taluk in employment opportunities while conducting recruitment. Another resolution appealed to the government to ensure full protection for environment while starting the project.
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A delegation of representatives of political parties met District Collector Jayashree Muralidharan here on Thursday and expressed their total support for the project. They handed over to the Collector a copy containing resolutions adopted at the all-party meeting. “The State government’s announcement of setting up a paper board unit is a welcome move and a great opportunity that will spur growth in the completely backward area of Manapparai taluk”, said Mr. Indrajit at the meeting with the Collector.
People of Manapparai for years had been seeking a government –run factory and a government college at Manapparai, he said appealing to the Collector to ensure that the project was not put on hold simply because some sections were opposed to it.
CPI-M district secretary S. Sridhar appealed to the Collector to provide compensation as per market rate for those from whom land would be acquired for the project.
Ms. Jayashree Muralidharan said the State government’s intention was to develop Manapparai area. She said officials had been deputed to Manapparai to brief the villagers about the project and its benefits. Once commissioned, the project would pave the way for many ancillary units to come up in that region, she added.