Land acquisition for forming approach roads to SIPCOT park gains momentum

The Small Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu (SIPCOT) is set to complete the land acquisition for forming an approach road at its industrial park at Mahimaipuram near Jayankondam.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled the plan of setting up the park at a function held in Ariyalur in November last year and the State government allotted 133 acres of land at Mahimaipuram in the boundary of the Jayankondam Municipality. Upon allotting the land, the SIPCOT took control of it so as to establish basic infrastructure such as roads, drinking water, street lights, electricity, and drainage.

Since a large number of eucalyptus trees had grown on the land, which is classified as government poramboke land, the SIPCOT had sought clearance from the Forest Department to remove the trees and to fix the value of the trees. Since the allotted land had no proper approach roads, SIPCOT approached the Revenue Department and submitted the land details to acquire private land.

An official of the SIPCOT told The Hindu that the Forest Department had started the process of measuring the trees. As per the new system, the forest officials had to measure the trees individually. Nearly 50% of the trees had been measured. The process would consume a few more weeks. Once the total value of the trees was arrived, a tender would be floated to remove them after getting mandatory clearances.

As far as the land acquisition was concerned, the official said it was required to acquire about 15 acres of land mainly to form approach roads to the industrial park. The process had reached an advanced stage. Nearly 80% land acquisition work had been completed. The SIPCOT would thereafter come up with a plan of creating all needed infrastructure. Similarly, a design would be prepared to divide the land into various plots for small, micro, and medium industries.