Date:24/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/24/stories/2008122454810500.htm

Tamil Nadu

“Strict conditions will facilitate industrial growth”

Staff Reporter

Buying land in industrial estate and selling part of it for profit have become thing of the past, says official

PUDUKOTTAI: The Industries Department has laid down strict guidelines to make sure that industrial estates are not used for real estate business, Chairman and Managing Director of Small Industries Development Corporation D. Rajendran has said.

Addressing entrepreneurs of Pudukottai district at a motivation camp for the proposed SIDCO estate here, Mr. Rajendran said the SIDCO had stipulated new conditions for facilitating industrial growth.

Those buying a plot in an estate should start the industry or should be a partner of the industry; they should not sell it. Further, the plinth area of buildings should be commensurate with the area of the plot.

“Buying a vast expanse of land and earning profit by selling a part of it later have become a thing of the past,” he said.

Mr. Rajendran said the entrepreneurs of Pudukottai district should consider setting up cluster industries. The SIDCO was prepared to promote cluster industries at Karaikudi, Elambalur and Asanur, depending upon the response from the entrepreneurs.

It would also offer them help by setting up a training centre for improving the skills of employees.

He appealed to them to take advantage of BHEL in the adjoining Tiruchi district, which he said provided ample scope for setting up fabrication units.

As for the entrepreneurs’ plea for reducing the land cost, Mr. Rajendran said only the State government could take a decision. The applications for plot allotment in the estate would be sold till February 15.

S. Prithiviraj, president of the Pudukottai District Tiny and Small Industries Association, said that not all banks treated the investment on land as part of loan.