In a pioneering effort the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) is setting up the Tamil Nadu Water Investment Co with a 46 per cent share held by the Government of Tamil Nadu and 54 per cent by IL&FS.
The company has been setting up a secondary water treatment plant at Koyambedu to supply water to industrial units in the industrial estates of Chennai and Kancheepuram districts (except Siruseri) as also for a couple of large tyre units.
K Srinivasan, Managing Director, SIPCOT, referred to the increasing demand for water. While desalination is an alternative, it is expensive, whereas secondary treated water at low cost will play a significant role, he said.
Developed land for industries…
SIPCOT, engaged in providing developed land with rich infrastructure, has played a stellar role in the industrial development of Tamil Nadu. “Since its inception in 1971, SIPCOT has developed 21 industrial complexes/parks/growth centres and six Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across 12 districts of Tamil Nadu. Large land parcels of 31,829 acres have been acquired of which the allottable extent is 25,649 acres. The corporation has allotted so far 20,695 acres to 2422 industrial units. It has attracted investments of around Rs 108,952 crore and created direct and indirect employment opportunities for over 600,000,” said Srinivasan.
Srinivasan described the role of SIPCOT as attracting industries to set up their factories in Tamil Nadu.
To take care of balanced development, the corporation has been setting up several new industrial complexes/parks in the industrially less developed southern parts of Tamil Nadu. To encourage units in backward districts, land is offered at 50 per cent subsidised rates.
Several of these are also set up for specific products and with shared facilities. The Aerospace Park at Vallam-Vadagal, the integrated textile processing park at Manakudi in Ramanathapuram district and the hazardous waste treatment, storage and disposal facility at Gummidipoondi are a few of these. There are plans to have a new facility at Bargur in Krishnagiri district.
Srinivasan referred to the Madurai-Thoothukudi industrial corridor project to be implemented through separate company. There will be industrial clusters that will be developed along the corridor.
Incentives for investment…
SIPCOT is a nodal agency for the structured package of assistance for establishing new manufacturing facilities as also for expansion of existing units with significant investments. The corporation has been instrumental in attractinginvestments from large corporations. To meet the increasing demand for developed land, SIPCOT has been continuously acquiring new parcels of land.
The 2014-15 state budget announced the plan to develop 53,000 acres of land for industrial purpose, by acquiring mostly dry and barren lands along with government’s poramboke lands. 41,252 acres have been identified so far. Srinivasan thus assures availability of large land parcels for both new industrial units and the expansion of the existing ones.
Srinivasan feels industrial units should together work for meeting the water needs both by setting up desalination plants as also through helping to build a water grid of secondary treated water. They should even come together to
help set up common effluent treatment and sewage treatment plants to ensure zero discharge of pollutants.
Srinivasan belongs to the Jharkhand cadre of IAS and brings with him rich experience tackling large industrial units of Tatas, Birlas, Adanis… He suggests a quicker clearance of regulatory issues and environmental approvals by Central agencies.
For 2017-18 SIPCOT had revenues of Rs 612 crore and earned an after-tax profit of Rs 166.45 crore. With large land parcels, its net worth the end of March 2018 was Rs 1303 crore. – SV
