Proposal to revamp DICs in TN Budget welcomed

COIMBATORE: Industrial associations here have welcomed the announcement in the State Budget to revamp all District Industries Centres (DICs), besides other developmental projects. Lauding the proposal to revamp all DICs in 32 districts at a cost of `50 crore to promote micro, small and medium enterprises, M Krishnan, president of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said, “Since Coimbatore is an industrial hub, we appeal to the Chief Minister to implement the pilot project in Coimbatore.”He further said that the implementation of the 1,600 MW super critical thermal power project at Udankudi at a cost of `8,000 crore would ease the power crisis and help in the trade and industrial development of the State.Expressing concern over the increase in Infrastructure Development Charges (IDC) he said, this would affect the real estate sector. “Withdrawal of VAT exemption on vegetable oil and levy of 5 percent VAT on the same will greatly affect the consumers,” he added.M Kandhaswami, president of the Coimbatore District Small Industries Association, lauded the announcement on providing entrepreneurship training to youth. He also welcomed the new schemes announced for skill development and the allocation of `50 crore for the development of small and tiny industries.“We had requested the State government to withdraw the 10 paise per unit tax for electricity produced through generators by the industries. However, there was no announcement on this. We also appeal to the State government to withdraw the power holiday,” Kandhaswami said in a release.J James, district president of Tamil Nadu Cottage and Tiny Enterprises said, “The government has allocated funds to overcome power crisis, which is welcome. On the other hand, the government should not permit new multinational companies in Tamil Nadu, till the power crisis is resolved.”S Ravikumar, president of Coimbatore, Tirupur District Micro and Cottage Entrepreneurs Association, welcomed the funds allocation to TANGEDCO, the Udankudi power project, the school education department and for setting up of industrial estates. He, however, said that allocation of `1,500 crore for new power projects was not sufficient.