SILCHAR, Oct 23 - The Integrated Infrastructure Development Centre (IIDC) at Malinibeel, about two kilometres from the humdrum of citylife, is struggling because of lack of resources and the utter confusion over the deadline of the lease term as determined by the Assam Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC).
According to Roshanlal Sethia, president of Barak Valley Industries Association, a consortium of entrepreneurs who have been alloted lands for running production within the sprawling 90-bigha campus here, the IIDC unit is highly sophisticated and environment-friendly for providing a boost to industrial production. �But we are faced with inadequate and incongenial infrastuctural facilities including water supply, non-availability of telephone services and a common Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), which was promised during the allotment of land. Also, the lease term of 60 years which was assured during land allotment has been executed for only 20 years in reality. This has put the entrepreneurs in a spot during negotiations with the banks,� Sethia said.
Subrangshu Shekhar Bhattacharjee, executive member of the association echoed Sethia and said that they are paying a lease rent of Rs 2.80 per square metre while the rates across 10 other IIDCs in the State are charged at Rs 1.75 square metre.
Interestingly, these apprehensions were brought forth by the entrepreneurs in response to questions raised recently by Silchar MLA Dilip Kumar Paul in the floor of the Assembly.
�As per the Government norm, the entrepreneurs must start using the land within three years of allotment. I had sought replies from the Minister of Industries and Commerce regarding the utlisation of the alloted land to the entrepreneurs. If they cannot utilise the land, they should return the alloted portions back to the Government. The Ministry in its reply said that 15 entrepreneurs are already up and doing with their production making use of the land while 7 entrepreneurs have left their alloted land absolutely unutilized since 2008. The area has great potential for industrial boost to this region,� the Silchar legislator told The Assam Tribune recently.
He was quick to inform that a proposal of Rs 2,63,832 has been sent for construction and development of internal road connecting the city via Shishu Mandir School and the District Industries Centre under the City Infrastructure Development Fund (CIDF) has been sent for apprpval. �I have visited the IIDC as many as four times along with a team of engineers and took stock of the undeveloped portions of land. But the way the entrepreneurs have raised fingers surrounding my question in the Assembly is unexpected and uncalled for. I shall continue to work for the development of my constituency,� Paul maintained.
Meanwhile, Dipak Paul, secretary of the association informed that out of the total land, 31 bighas have been allocated to 26 entrepreneurs and 29 bigha land is being used for common infrastrure and 30 bigha marshy land is lying vacant owing to lack of attention. �We approached the Minister of Industries and Commerce Chandra Mohan Patowary on October 4 with our demand for development of the IIDC and highlighted the lack of drainage facilities which is causing stagnation, need for streetlights, deployment of security guards, and the common facility centre. The Minister responded to the concern on a positive note. We hope that the problems will be addressed soon,� Paul said.
