Date:10/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/10/stories/2007051002780600.htm

Tamil Nadu

MLAs slam concessions granted to SEZs

Special Correspondent

Say they do not generate enough jobs for locals

CHENNAI: Members cutting across party lines disapproved of the concessions granted to Special Economic Zones and the information technology industry, which, they said, did not generate enough jobs for locals.

They wanted the Government to cut down on free facilities being offered to the industries and put the needs of people above those of the industries.

Peter Alphonse (Congress) wanted the Government to focus on agro industries and the manufacturing sector. "IT can grow on its own," he said. The sector had created only 70,000 jobs though it grew hugely last year. It was given the best of roads, land and infrastructure, but it would not help reduce unemployment even to a small extent. Three crore people needed jobs.

Technocrats preferred

N. Nanmaran of the CPI (M) wanted all public sector enterprises headed by technocrats. Some changes were required in the SEZ laws. His party had come up with a draft. Land acquisition had to be done by the Government to ensure that corporate houses did not trample on small and marginal landowners.

S. Gunasekhran (CPI) faulted the IT sector for the high rents in Chennai and adjoining areas.

T. Velmurugan (PMK) said the SEZs set apart about 75 per cent of the space for entertainment and leisure activities. The State was forced to give the SEZs uninterrupted power and water when many people did not have them.

D. Ravikumar (VCK) wanted to know if the Government was giving more concessions to the World Bank back office in Chennai than what was promised in the memorandum of understanding. The State had already given the Bank land worth Rs.100 crore, and the bank was demanding more concessions, including waiver of building licence fee. The SEZs were more like a nation within a nation and did not adhere to any rules.

Television sets

D. Jayakumar (AIADMK) said the Government had procured just over 4 lakh televisions sets. How could the entire allocation for the year be shown as spent, he wondered.

Responding in an emotional tone, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said he was ready to go to the gallows if there was any wrongdoing in the television deal. The money was given to ELCOT for procurement of televisions, and hence was shown as spent in the government account.

Responding to persistent demands from the PMK members not to permit corporate bigwigs in the retail trade, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Government did not have the power to do so.

Since both the DMK and the PMK were part of the United Progressive Alliance Government, he said, a resolution could be moved in the Union Cabinet to oust them.