VISION-2023: As the TN Pegasus tries to fly high

A peek in to the Global Investors Meet 2015- Part 2

As I closely watched the live program of GIM 2015 (both the inauguration and the valedictory functions), I should say this is no time to troll Chennai and the entire TN about it’s under developed areas. But some things should get their attention anyways. I appreciate the investment of Tomohide, a Japan company in digitizing Ponneri in the Chennai-Bengaluru industrial corridor and also a 200 crore investment by Malaysia in Madurai-Tootukudi industrial corridor. A total of 80 MoUs (Memorandum of Understanding) have been signed in manufacturing, energy and medical sectors. The government has requested Apollo to introduce Tele-Medicine in remote villages which to its credit has successfully connected various remote parts of India through Tele-Medicine. 

All the newspapers are covering about the GIM 2015, the promises made by multinational and nationalized companies and small industries in various sectors. People say me that Chennai is the fastest growing state in India and these investments would certainly place TN ahead in all respects. 

Where the concentration is needed after all the paper works and implementation?

Obviously, Infrastructure…

As I mentioned in the previous article in my blog, it’s the infrastructure where the state needs to concentrate. There is dissatisfaction in my heart about the statement, “Tamil Nadu has enough electricity and it is in the verge of becoming an electricity surplus state”. I travel between the Singara Chennai and my village (as my present situation demands that) and I have experienced enough current less hours in both the places.

"Electricity is a different sector. Why are you talking about that in infrastructure?", I could hear some of the voices rising. 

Yes. Electricity belongs to energy sector. But, do we not live in a building with electrical wiring?  Don’t we expect to have the Air Conditioner on all the time? So, my definition of infrastructure includes this too. A major positive change in this sector would be the wish of all the people in TN, I think. Giving all the energy available to the investing companies and keeping the people in dark would reflect on the votes in the election. The present political party must remember that electricity crisis was among the few other reasons for the failure of the DMK lead government in 2011. I should mention here the MoU signed in the energy sector with the Adani group for 10,000 crores. This should be realized as fast as possible to satisfy the general public’s needs apart from sufficing the investors.

Another important aspect in which TN needs attention is the environment and sanitation. I hope people can understand that developing a clean environment to live is another important facet of infrastructure. There is a lot of buzz all over India about the “Clean India” campaign introduced by the central government. 

Tamil Nadu needs to implement this personally for its own good. The places like Perungudi and Kodungaiyur, where the entire Chennai’s waste are dumped, need to be given an attention. They are collected and dumped in these two places predominantly. Considering a city which generates a waste of 5000 tonnes per month and a dumping yard which has not been expanded for years holding a 30 feet of unprocessed and infected wastes, it’s a high time for the government to divert the remaining 10 percent of investment that has not been categorized to be invested on any sector based on the news so far. 

Every Tamilian would wish a better sanitation in all the places. The fine amount of 500 rupees for dumping non-degradable wastes in public places has never reached the people. Most of the people don’t even have any idea about this rule. This should be implemented the same way the rule of wearing helmets was established in the recent past. A “Clean TN” campaign is needed to save the state immediately from future disasters due to unprocessed wastes.

Resources: The Hindu, Quora, Times of India 

Many other problems will be discussed. Stay tuned!!!

I request all my readers to send a picture personally or in my timeline in any of the social media to prove that Tamil Nadu needs concentration in the electricity and environment. Use #TNVision2023. Join hands for TN. Create a ripple in the society. Plan to gift an energy surplus and clean TN to the future.

VISION-2023: As the TN Pegasus tries to fly high

A peek in to the Global Investors Meet 2015- Part 1

 Pegasus is a sign of lightning and it is believed wherever it lands it brings spring says the Greek mythology. Now it has made its presence in GIM 2015 (Global Investors Meet 2015), first of its kind in Tamil Nadu. With the literal translation of the flying horse’s name from Latin, we are bound to believe that the spring of Tamil Nadu has arrived and the growth would be like lightning and thunder. The profile of the state, ‘Why Tamil Nadu?’ in the official website of the meet presents itself as one of the fastest growing state in 9 of the 12 sectors in India. The GIM has a target of attracting 1 lakh crore investment (16 billion USD) which the government sources say, have already surpassed. Partnership from 9 countries and 21 organisations, housing about 1000 foreign investment delegates and 4000 from various parts of India in a single roof in the Chennai Trade centre, GIM has showed its might in the inauguration event. 

There are lot of factors to be considered which have been a great hinder to the past investors like delay in clearance of documents, the electricity crisis and the unknown unions formed in the manufacturing units that participate in strikes most of the time. For the above mentioned problems, the government have answers. 

The government in the GIM has promised the single window clearance in 30 days for the Memorandum of Understandings signed in the event. The government has registered its point that it is in the verge of turning in to an electricity surplus state. The statistics in the state also gives a clear picture that the strike rate in the state has decreased to a great extent from 2003 to 2012. It has also clarified that the closing of Nokia manufacturing unit in Chennai was not because of the Government.

Let us assume, TN gets the 1 lakh crore investments as planned and even surpasses the target. What does that have to do with the normal citizen living in Chennai or anywhere in Tamil Nadu? The investments have been guaranteed to be taken 40% from energy sector, 40% from manufacturing and 10% from IT and IT enabled Services. 

First of all, this promises surplus employment opportunities in the future in the energy and manufacturing sector. ‘Do we have the skilled labour to achieve this target?’ is the next question that pops in our head. ‘Yes, we have or we will create it’, says the government and this statement were backed by HCL in the event, which has promised a skill development program for about 20,000 students in various fields all over the state.

Second, this would help improve the infrastructure of the state. Third, if all goes as planned Tamil Nadu will achieve its Vision, to achieve 14% growth rate per annum and a total 15 lakh crore investment by 2023.

Infrastructure 

I have intent to explore this second point. A state that is a hub for 6 international airports, lot of manufacturing units in automobile sector and textile and leather industry has posed itself a great challenge in this concern. The government has to realize that it is not enough to develop and maintain the areas of Meenambakkam and that of the areas stayed and visited by VIPs. The entire state needs the best infra to project to be the leading state in India, a feat the government has beset to achieve. In the past, the development in the state has destroyed a lot of natural resources. One such example is the Koovam River in Adayar. This generation would never accept it as river but as drainage. Lot of ponds and lakes have vanished in the name of urbanization. 

 

Today’s state of Koovam River, Adyar.

“The lost beauty-Buckingham canal”

Picture and quote credit: Arvind an IT professional at Athena health

Will the investments, in various parts of TN, destroy the left over natural resources? This question irks my mind. So does for the many other people in the state. The answer lies in the hand of the government which has given Environmental protection infrastructure subsidy up to USD 50,000.

Resources: Wikipedia, The Hindu, GIM website

Public views are being collected through various social media. Stay tuned for the next part!!!