CHENNAI: The Centre has cleared integrated textile parks for Madurai and Karur.

Minister of State for Handlooms and Textiles E.V.K.S. Elangovan told reporters here on Thursday that the two parks were in addition to those sanctioned to Palladam, Cuddalore, Perunthurai and Kumarapalayam.

The project cost of the Madurai park would be Rs. 87 crore, and it was Rs 98 crore for Karur. The Centre would give a grant of Rs. 35 crore for Madurai and Rs. 38 crore for Karur.

The park in Madurai would come up on about 100 acres. The total estimated investment would be of the order of Rs. 409 crore. It would provide direct employment to 3,000 people and indirect employment to 4,000. The expected annual production would be worth Rs. 900 crore. The Karur park would provide employment to 7,000 people. Work on the other parks had commenced.

Mr. Elangovan, a former president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, said the party would contest Madurai (West), which fell vacant after the death of All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MLA S.V.Shanmugham. As the Democratic Progressive Alliance had allotted the seat to the party in the last Assembly election, it would be given again to the Congress.

As for the demand of party workers for a share in power for the Congress in the State, he said the issue had to be decided by party president Sonia Gandhi and Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. The party workers felt that it was their legitimate right to have a share in the Government.

Describing the Congress as a constructive Opposition, Mr. Elangovan said it had not criticised the DMK Government so far, since it had been fulfilling the poll promises.

Describing the centenary celebration of the Satyagraha movement, organised by the party, as a success, he said the Congress would hold similar functions in other parts of the State.

DK criticised

Mr. Elangovan criticised Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani for his failure to take steps to release Periyar, a film. Though the film was set for release in the first week of February, it had not hit the screen so far. As the DK was collecting funds from the public, he said, it was duty-bound to release it.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail