Date:28/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/28/stories/2008122858760300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Infrastructure problems continue to plague Guindy industrial estate

Staff Reporter

Poor roads, clogged drains and faulty waste disposal system are the common complaints

— Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

Bumpy ride: A road in bad shape in the Guindy Industrial Estate.

CHENNAI: A number of issues relating to infrastructure shortfalls and maintenance, including the bad condition of roads, inundation, clogging of drains and incomplete work on stormwater drains were raised at a meeting of the members of the Industrial Estate Manufacturer’s Association, Guindy, here on Friday.

Many of the members regretted that a permanent solution to the problems continued to elude unit holders in the estate, even after half a century since the facility was established as a model in Tamil Nadu.

The northern and southern phases of the Thiru-Vi-Ka Industrial Estate, popularly known as Guindy estate, were especially in a bad shape with manhole covers missing and the drains clogged with construction debris. “Every time a telecom service provider digs up the road for laying cables, they do not repair the damaged length. Often in response to our complaints about the bad roads, the authorities dump debris on the potholes and do not even level it afterwards,” a member complained.

Former general secretary of Tamil Nadu Small and Tiny Industries Association (TANSTIA) T.C. Dayalan said a retaining wall could be constructed alongthe nullah to prevent flooding of the estate during monsoon. Hari Narayanan, another unit holder, demanded better waste disposal systems inside the estate. “Office waste is just dumped and burnt at road corners,” he said.

The Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO) should provide updated records of land use and the built-up area to the Chennai Corporation and Metrowater, as in the absence the two agencies levy tax based on old records.

M.V.Madhu Sudhana of Cosy Industries said that pits meant for laying drains remained open for over eight months and posed safety hazards to road users.

In response, SIDCO Chairman and Managing Director D. Rajendran said the road laying work and construction of stormwater drains in north and south phases were expected to get over by April 2009.

He said contracts for laying 46 roads had been awarded. The contract for construction of stormwater drains was expected to be awarded soon. Works on 37 other roads in the estate would be completed in a couple of weeks, he said.

SIDCO was on the lookout for more land for setting up industrial estates.

“We are looking at a temple land near Thirumillaivoyal. Another option that we are exploring is to acquire 200 acres at Alamatti. But with the high cost of land, it remains to be seen if manufacturers will be willing to set up units in such locations,” he added.

IEMA president K.V.Kanakambaram and honorary secretary N.Rajasekar spoke.