A Rs.1,600-crore plant for colour television sets and other electronic consumer durables will be set up by Videocon, a leading manufacturer of consumer durables, in Manamadurai of Sivaganga district.
The proposal is in response to the State government’s package of incentives for industrial projects in the southern districts.
Giving details of the proposal in his customary address to the Assembly on Wednesday, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said the government realised that the only solution for the present socio-economic problems of the southern districts lay in industrial development.
The Tamil Nadu Minerals Limited has commenced work for a granite cutting and polishing unit in Melur taluk of Madurai district. As a result of the efforts of Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers M.K. Alagiri, a company based in Indonesia and Hong Kong had come forward to invest Rs. 2,200 crore for establishing manufacturing units of tractors, steel alloys and forgings in Madurai and Sivaganga districts. Last month, ATC Tyres had commenced production at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district.
The Governor told the Assembly that since the assumption of office by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, 37 new industries with an investment of Rs. 46,091 crore had been attracted through a package of incentives, generating employment opportunities for 2,22,569 persons. Recently, the French tyre manufacturing company, Michelin, had come forward to establish a world class manufacturing facility with an investment of Rs. 4,000 crore at Gummidipoondi near Chennai. Besides, the government had encouraged entrepreneurs to set up industrial units in different parts of the State such as Gangaikondan, Perambalur, Palladam and Cheyyar.
On the Centre’s plan to introduce Goods and Services Tax, the Governor spelt out the State government’ s position that the proposed tax should be launched on the basis of consensus among States without affecting the existing powers and revenues of the States.
As for the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, he said that accepting the request of the State government, the Central government had agreed to increase the daily wages given under the scheme from Rs. 80 to Rs. 100. The enhanced wage came into effect from January 1. So far, a sum of Rs. 2,885 was disbursed under the scheme.
The quantum of State’s Own Tax Revenues devolved to local bodies would be increased to 10 per cent in the coming financial year. At present, it was 9.5 per cent.
On the Rs.1,929-crore Hogenakkal Combined Water Supply Scheme, Mr Barnala said tenders for the scheme were being finalised. The works would commence in March.
An Environment Protection and Renewable Energy Development Fund would be established.
The Governor reiterated the government’s appeal to the Centre to grant permanent resident status to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in the State. Assembly Speaker R. Avudaiappan read out the Tamil version of the Governor’s address.
