Madurai Tidel Park plan gets approval

Signalling the beginning of the process towards establishing an Information Technology Park in Madurai, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Monday that he had signed the file approving the location of a Tidel Park in that city.

He revealed this at the first meeting of the newly constituted Special Task Force for Industrial Development held at the Secretariat here. The Chief Minister chaired the meeting in which State Government officials and representatives of industry organisations and major companies participated.

Mr. Karunanidhi told the meeting that in the past 10 months, the government had signed Memoranda of Understanding for setting up eight mega industrial projects. These projects translate into an investment of Rs.7000 crore for the State and give direct employment to 37,000 persons and indirect employments to 60,000 persons.

The government was acting on the advice and demand of the industry and had taken many steps to ensure better roads and water supply and also uninterrupted electricity availability.
Asked about the meeting, the Chief Minister later said that the government was also keen on the development of industry south of Madurai.

The suggestions that came up at the meeting would be discussed at appropriate levels and action would be taken, Mr. Karunanidhi said. The Federation of Indian Export Organisations wanted the State to set up a separate Tamil Nadu Export Promotion Board and also wanted an exclusive Export Promotion Policy for the State. It also wanted flexibility in labour laws.