Salem District Small Scale and Tiny Industries Association has urged the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) to allot 30 per cent of area in the Special Economy Zone being developed by the Salem Steel Plant (SSP) here for setting up micro and small scale industries.

A team of delegates from the association led by its President K. Mariappan met its Executive Director Pankaj Goutham on Tuesday and discussed the issues related to the development of small scale industries in the SEZ, which the SSP had been developing on its premises.

The delegation pointed out that nearly 1000 acres of land for the development of down stream industries had been allotted by the Steel Ministry of which 277 acres of land was under development in Phase I in for SEZ.

SAIL had also already called for tenders for expression of interest to promote it as a joint venture. Tamil Nadu government had made it mandatory that in all Industrial Estates, 30 per cent of lands should be provided for setting up micro and small scale industries. The delegation said that SAIL also should provide the same in its industrial area in the proposed SEZ primarily for the benefit of micro and small industrialists. The members urged the SSP Executive Director to organise an interactive meeting with the industrialists of Salem and neighbouring districts to enlighten them about the various stainless steel products, which had high demand not only in the domestic market but also in export markets.

“It is high time that the SSP management should join hands with local entrepreneurs to identify the down stream industries and your invitation shall certainly bring good results and also instil confidence in technocrats who are willing to utilise the opportunity to go for self-employment,” they told him.

Salem Steel Plant was the only major Public Sector Industry which is currently expanded at about Rs.2000 crores. They also urged the SSP to have frequent interaction with the media so that the government’s development projects could be made known to public.

SSP must undertake the skill development training to the unemployed youth and Self Help Groups so that rural-based industrial activities could be generated. “Our association and Salem Productivity Council are ready to support the SSP for implementing various training programmes,” they pointed out.

Source: THE HINDU