Trade bodies laud Jaya’s win, seek creation of infra for south TN

Madurai: Welcoming the victory of chief minister J Jayalalithaa in the assembly election with absolute majority, trade and industrial forums in the region on Friday urged her to consider creating necessary infrastructure for the industrial development of southern districts.
Senior president of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TNCCI), S Rethinavelu said that industrial development has not taken place throughout the state.Southern districts still lag behind western and northern districts when it comes to industrialisation, he pointed out.
"We need adequate infrastructure in this part of the state to promote industries. If there is an exclusive state ministry to coordinate infrastructure like airways, railways, interlinking of rivers, waterways with central government, it will help in development of the state," he said. The chamber in a statement particularly hailed various schemes announced in AIADMK's election manifesto on infrastructure like uninterrupted power supply, 18,500MW additional power generation in the next five years, inter-linking of rivers within Tamil Nadu, cold storages for preservation of vegetables and fruits and special commercial complexes, seeds at subsidised rates for farmers, boost to organic farming and affordable prices for farmers for their produce. It further said satellite cities around major cities, textile parks and silk textile parks, monorail in Madurai, Trichy and Coimbatore, Global Investors Meet once in two years, undisturbed and smooth business environment, Amma venture capital fund to motivate first generation entrepreneurs and SMEs, industrial training for 10 lakh people and new industrial estates are some of the schemes that will take the state ahead.
Similarly, Tamil Nadu Vanigar Sangangalin Peravai felicitated AIADMK's victory. President of the federation, T Vellaiyan addressing mediapersons in Tuticorin said that it was a historic victory for a ruling party to be elected for the second term. While it shows faith of the people in the ruling AIADMK, there is a strong opposition in assembly which is a good sign for democracy, he said.