Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Wednesday, Aug 15, 2007 ePaper |
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Tamil Nadu
Special Correspondent
CHENNAI: The Tata group has decided to go ahead with the Rs 2,500-crore titanium dioxide project in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts after getting full support of the people in those areas. Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Tata Steel Managing Director B. Muthuraman said: “We are not withdrawing from the project. We are ready in all aspects except land. We will pay a fair and right price for the land and will not yield to pressure from others to pay an unreasonable price. We will take the help of the State Government to tackle the issues.” Having waited for nearly six years to sign an agreement with the State Government, he said, they would wait for some more time before taking the next step. The project has the support of two-third to three-fourth of the people. Unruly elements and illegal miners are creating doubts in the minds of the public, Mr. Muthuraman said. Tata group officials are forming teams to remove the doubts, explain the project details and benefits to the public in the area. They are willing to have a debate on this issue with the people. “We are an open and transparent organisation. We don’t hide anything. This project will give substantial revenue to the State. Kerala, Andhra Pradesh and Orissa invited us. But, we decided to stick with Tamil Nadu. Wherever we have gone, we have improved the quality of life. Here too, we will set up a committee to monitor the income level of every single family and make them better off than they are today,” he said. For the project, the Tata group requires 10,000 acres spread across six villages. Around 8,929 acres is owned by 7,500 pattadars. The group has set aside Rs 50 crore for land acquisition. On the price being offered to the land owners, he said: “It is not gold. It is also not different from steel or aluminium. If they are thinking that they are sitting on a box of gold, let them be there. If there is no project, then the land price will be zero.” Asked about their next step, he said, “Being a Rs 100,000-crore company, we have alternative ideas and alternative projects. But, it is for the people to decide whether they want the project or not. If the land price goes up, it is not viable to set up the unit.” Stating that the group was not averse to acquiring land directly, Mr. Muthuraman said, “We need large tracts of land. But there were natural limitations like ownership issue, common titles and fluctuating price. These could be solved only with the help of the State Government. These are not cultivable lands. By accepting our price, they can get more revenue (by way of interest) compared with what they are getting today. It is up to the State Government to decide what price can be offered.” Job prospects
Tata group officials clarified they were not offering jobs to everyone in the family. This project would offer direct employment to 1,000 persons and indirect employment to 3,000 others. The Tata group was setting up a training school and would provide training at its expense to youngsters who would become employable in three years’ time. Mr. Muthuraman said the group was the largest employer in the State with 35,000 employees through Tata Consultancy Services, Titan and Tata Steel. In the last five years, it had released Rs. 85 crore in several villages as part of corporate social responsibility and Rs. 35 crore was disbursed last year as tsunami relief.
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