TAHDCO industrial sheds at Perundurai lying unused for over 25 years, says association

The Perundurai SIPCOT Affected People’s Welfare Association has urged the State government to renovate and allot 200 industrial sheds constructed by the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO) at the Perundurai Sipcot Industrial Growth Centre, stating that they have remained unused for more than 25 years.

In a representation submitted to the Minister for Social Justice Vanni Arasu, the association said 150 acres of land in the 2,700-acre Perundurai SIPCOT Industrial Growth Centre had been allotted to TAHDCO. During the 1996-2001 DMK regime, 200 industrial sheds were constructed on about 100 acres at a cost of several crores of rupees to help members of the Adi Dravidar community establish knitwear units.

However, the sheds have remained unallotted for over 25 years, resulting in the deterioration of the buildings and infrastructure, including doors, windows and overhead water tanks. The premises have also become a hub for anti-social activities, the association alleged.

It said several organisations, including the Communist Party of India (CPI), had repeatedly urged the government to renovate the sheds, relax the eligibility norms and allot them to beneficiaries. About two years ago, the previous government announced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly that ₹115 crore would be allocated to renovate the TAHDCO industrial sheds at Perundurai, Ingur, and Mudalipalayam in Tiruppur district and allot them to beneficiaries.

The association alleged that, despite the announcement, the sheds had neither been renovated nor allotted to members of the Adi Dravidar community, leading to resentment among local residents, particularly farmers who had parted with their agricultural land for the establishment of the Sipcot industrial estate.

It urged the Minister to immediately renovate the 200 industrial sheds, relax the eligibility conditions, and allot them to eligible beneficiaries. The association also claimed that SIPCOT had resumed nearly 50 acres of the 150 acres originally allotted to TAHDCO after the land remained unused for several years and had subsequently allotted it to private industrial units. It sought details of the action taken on its representation.