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Wednesday, Aug 13, 2008
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Salem looks forward to SEZ

R. Ilangovan

Photo: P. Goutham

No progress: A view of the site selected for the establishment of Information Technology park in Salem. –

SALEM: Even the ground-levelling work has not begun at the site proposed for the Information Technology-specific Special Economic Zone here, creating doubts among citizens about the status of the ambitious project. A senior ELCOT official, however, said work would begin soon.

The magnesite-rich area spread over almost 66 hectares includes 31.37 hectares for which Burn Standard Company, a public sector undertaking engaged in open-cast mining, has been seeking an extension of lease by another 20 years. The State has, however, turned down the request: the lease expired in June 2001.

Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi laid the foundation stone for the zone a year ago.

Ilegal mining

With the land remaining unused for long, illegal miners are having a field day.

Situated on Salem-Bangalore National Highway and located at a distance of four hours by road from Bangalore, the site is seen as an ideal location for IT firms.

ELCOT, the official executor of IT projects in Tamil Nadu, has received expressions of intent from six firms to open shop in Salem. Of these Zenith Software Limited, Bangalore, has been allotted eight acres. Others, including dB Professional, Chennai; Mahima Technologies; VS Computers, Salem; SS Technologies and Maruthi Computers have reserved sites that range from three acres to six acres.

The charges for an acre come to Rs. 17.5 lakh. The lease period is 90 years. Since the zone will be 100 per cent export-oriented, facilities including uninterrupted power supply and water will be provided. An extent of about 14.44 acres has been identified to set up an exclusive 230 kv sub-station. The job is entrusted with the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

The Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board will provide 7.5 mld of water to the park. BSNL, Tata VSNL, Bharati and Reliance have already established their broadband networks here.

Tier-II cities in the State such as Madurai, Coimbatore, Tirunelveli, Tiruchi and Hosur, which have been allotted government-sponsored and private IT parks, have started receiving expressions of intent.

Eight firms have decided to set up shop in Tirunelveli. Eight others have expressed their intent to launch projects in Madurai. Coimbatore will have five projects and Tiruchi will have three.

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