CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday made it clear in the Assembly that the State Government had been taking care to ensure that adequate percentage of employment was earmarked for the locals at the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) in the State.

During question hour, Mr. Karunanidhi also said that the Government would give importance for the implementation of social justice, besides making sure that the interests of the workers and agriculturists were in no way affected because of setting up of the SEZ.

Responding to issues raised by Congress whip Peter Alphonse, he said the Government would take steps to establish a hi-tech industrial park in Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district, besides using electricity generated by the Koodangulam power plant for developing industries in the southern districts.

The Government would also examine implementation of the recommendations of the Rathnavel Pandian panel, he added. Replying to questions raised by D. Ravikumar (Dalit Panthers of India), Saba Rajendran, T. Senguttuvan, R. Rajendran and R.S. Rajakannappan (all DMK), he said the Government entered into Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with industries only after ascertaining that they would provide employment to the locals while setting up their units.

"Only 4 functional"

Out of 44 SEZs sanctioned by the Government, only four were functional, the Chief Minister said, adding that efforts were on to set up a SEZ in Krishnagiri district by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) to attract investors for setting up information technology-related industries and units manufacturing electronic goods, readymade garments and drugs. The SEZ was expected to generate 70,000 jobs in ten years, he said.

Replying to the question raised by G. John Joseph (Communist Party of India-Marxist), the Chief Minister said TIDCO had been taking efforts to set up a rubber industrial park at Shenbagaramanpudur in Kanyakumari district in the joint sector at a cost of Rs. 14.5 crore by the end of this year.

Steps had been initiated to purchase 100 acres in addition to 150 acres purchased already for this purpose, he pointed out.

During the last six months, the DMK Government had signed MoUs with six foreign companies for starting industrial units at a total cost of Rs. 2,685 crore to provide direct employment for 25,860 persons and indirect employment for 27,280 persons, he said.

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