With a view to encourage micro, small and medium industries, seven industrial estates would be established in Tamil Nadu through the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO).
Replying to the discussion on the demands for grants for his department in the State Assembly, Rural Industries Minister P Mohan on Wednesday said the new industrial estates would come up at Kaattu Vannanchur in Villupuram, Parvathanahalli and Eechampadi in Dharmapuri district, Mallur in Ariyalur, Peria Nesalur in Cuddalore, Sakkarakottai in Ramanathapuram and Vettampadi in Namakkal district.
The Minister said infrastructure facilities in the electrical and electronic industrial estates in Hosur, Salem and Madurai, and porcelain industrial estate in Vriddhachalam would be upgraded at a cost of `2 crore. Due to the impact of new industries, the number of students at the Government Scientific Glass Training Centre in Guindy had come down drastically, the Minister said, adding that this would be merged with the Government Production Centre for Scientific Glass Apparatus at Coimbatore. For this purpose, `30 lakh would be allocated.
Stating that the infrastructure facilities at chemical testing laboratories in Chennai, Madurai, Coimbatore, Salem and Tuticorin would be improved at a cost of `2 crore, Mohan said `15 lakh would be given as aid to these facilities to buy additional lab equipment.