CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu will soon get new industrial and information technology policies and revive the IT task force, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, who also holds the IT portfolio, told the Assembly on Wednesday.

The State Government has decided to formulate the new IT policy with a view to consolidate the gains made so far and propel the industry into a higher growth trajectory. The policy would comprehensively cover all sectors of the IT industry.

A separate policy for IT hardware manufacturing and biotechnology would also be formulated. The IT task force would have representatives of the IT industry and the objective behind constituting it was to identify the infrastructure requirements. Replying to the debate on the demand for grants to the IT Department, the Chief Minister said there were plans to establish information technology parks in Madurai, Tiruchi, Salem and Tirunelveli. The decision to set up IT parks in other cities, he explained, was taken with the objective of spreading the IT revolution that at present was concentrated around Chennai.

According to Mr. Karunanidhi, a second Tidel Park will be set up at Taramani in Chennai. The State Government in association with the Software Technology Parks of India would also establish an IT park in Coimbatore.

The State Government, the Chief Minister said, would provide exemption from the general and central sales tax "without any limit" on the sale of computers manufactured by companies with an investment exceeding Rs.100 crore in the SEZs in Tamil Nadu. This concession would be given for 10 years from the commencement of commercial production. The announcement comes in the wake of the Budget speech in which the Finance Minister said special concessions would be granted to companies setting up computer manufacturing facilities in the State. The incentives are for increasing the use of computers and making them affordable.

The Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design and Manufacturing, a national centre of excellence announced by the Union Human Resource Development Ministry, is to be located in Chennai.

Noting that the first phase of the IT Expressway project, to develop six lane road between Taramani and Siruseri, at a cost of Rs.205 crore was progressing, Mr. Karunanidhi said in the next phase similar work would be initiated over 25 km from Siruseri to Mahabalipuram.

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