The DMK Deputy General Secretary and Nilgiris MP A Raja reassured that only the land owned by private companies will be taken up for setting up an industrial park and not the farmers' lands for any reason. He also stated that the Government will make an announcement soon to allay the unnecessary fears of the people in the area.
Coimbatore: Farmers, Farmers' Unions and various political parties have been staging demonstrations and protests against the land acquisition that is underway for setting up of the TIDCO Industrial Park at Annur in Coimbatore district.
On the subject, the DMK Deputy General Secretary and the Nilgiris MP A Raja spoke to reporters at a private hotel on Avinashi Road. He said, "An order was issued to set up industrial parks on behalf of TIDCO in the villages under Annur Ondriyam in Coimbatore district. In this, they have been protesting against the controversial remarks that agricultural land is being taken over. As an MP from this constituency, discussions were held with the Industries Minister, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the District Collector.
As an MP, I have a duty to allay the unnecessary fears of the people. The establishments to be set up in the industrial estate are not polluting companies. Moreover, more than 2,000 acres of land in the area is owned by private companies. The other places are that of the farmers'. Only the land owned by private companies will be taken up for setting up an industrial park.
Farmers' lands will not be taken away for any reason. No land will be taken up without the will of the farmers. There will be no polluting industries. Therefore, a clear decision has been taken to allay the fears among the farmers. An announcement in this regard will be made today or tomorrow," he further reassured.
MP A Raja also stated, "Industries started with an investment of more than Rs. 50 crore and can be set up only with the approval of the Central Government. No big industries will come up against the Central Government. Industries cannot be given permission by Ministers, it can only be permitted by the tech giants. Similarly, only the Central Government can give environmental clearance to industries. The Government has not backed down on this issue and is ready to set up industrial estates on 800 to 1500 acres of land."
Stating that entrepreneurs do not want to set up industrial estates in Nanguneri, MP A Raja said, "Entrepreneurs cannot be asked why industries were not set up in Nanguneri. If there is a protest without data on the Annur issue, it means that it is being conducted with ulterior motives. The farmers of Annur area have already met me about TIDCO. I have assured them that land will not be taken away without the consent of the farmers. The industrial park in Annur will surely get jobs for the local people."
Commenting on Udhayanidhi Stalin's appointment as a Minister, the DMK MP said, "There will be the criticism of dynastic politics. DMK is an ideological movement and we believe Udhayanidhi will have the capacity to run the administration. I welcome BJP leader Annamalai's statement of a corruption list, but he has to prove it," challenged MP A Raja.