The Hindu : Front Page : IT corridor will provide 3 lakh jobs: Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 04, 2007
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IT corridor will provide 3 lakh jobs: Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister says first phase will be completed by August

Assurance on Pallikaranai swamp Seeks cooperation in airport expansion project

— Photo: S. S. Kumar

ROAD TO THE FUTURE: The newly laid road along the IT corridor, which Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said, would fuel the creation of three lakh jobs in the next three years.

CHENNAI: As many as three lakh persons will be provided employment in three years in the Information Technology units that will come up along the `IT Corridor' on the outskirts of Chennai, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Saturday.

Mr. Karunanidhi, who pushed for the speedy completion of the IT corridor by making a surprise visit to the project areas, told reporters that the first phase of the works, from Madhya Kailash to Siruseri covering 20 km at an estimated cost of Rs.205 crore, were progressing satisfactorily and would be completed by August.

During the previous All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government, only eight per cent of the works involving Rs.5 crore were completed, he said, adding that 20 per cent of the works had been completed after the new Government took over.

The Government also tried to identify vacant lands for setting up more IT units. Once the entire project was completed, the area would attract the world's attention by having the highest concentration of IT personnel, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Asked whether the State Government would urge the United Progressive Alliance Government to review budget proposals such as the Minimum Alternative Tax that would affect the growth of the IT industry, he said if a proposal hampered the development of the IT industry, the State would certainly ask the Centre to review it.

The State Government would take steps to protect the Pallikaranai swamp while finding ways to protect the people from the unhygienic atmosphere in the area, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Replying to a query on the proposal on expanding the Chennai airport, he made it clear that the State Government would not blindly rush through any decision on the project. "We will adopt an affectionate and sympathetic approach in making alternative arrangements," he said.

Several issues had been raised in connection with the airport expansion project, Mr. Karunanidhi said. The Government had been holding talks to provide alternative sites for people living in huts and some middle class residents of the site selected for the project. "It is doubtful if those who have raised the issue will accept [the Government's offer] even if these residents accept it," he added.

He appealed to all sections to cooperate with the Government. No problem would arise if it was acknowledged that the project had to be taken up in public interest and that air service was important for enhancing the growth of Chennai and the entire State, he said. To another query, he said the expansion project could not be taken up on a site far off from the city. He allayed apprehensions that the displaced people would not get market price for the land acquired for the project.

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