Chennai, Aug 10 (PTI) Industrial projects at the SIPCOT complexes in Tamil Nadu, specifically Manapparai in Tiruchirapalli district were stalled during previous DMK regime due to significant delays and lack of essential infrastructure, state Minister S Keerthana said on Monday.
Despite being endowed with 1,097.86 acres, the SIPCOT industrial park in Manapparai faced significant delays and stagnation for want of essential infrastructure, she told the Assembly refuting the opposition DMK charge of “neglecting the sector.” “There was no consistent water supply. Insufficient road infrastructure, and a lack of street lighting hindered investor interest. Public transport services to the industrial park were not adequately established, making it difficult for workers to reach the site. The situation prevailing in Manapparai was similar in other places across the state,” the Industries Minister said.
Raising the issue during a debate in the Assembly, former DMK minister K N Nehru questioned the timing and credit for developmental works in the Manapparai constituency.
He wondered whether the minister could truly complete significant water supply and infrastructure projects within a short span of 90 days, and implied that foundational planning for these projects was laid by the previous administration.
Also, he criticised the present state of infrastructure, water supply, and industrial projects in the local SIPCOT industrial park.
Responding, Keerthana said on the shortcomings in power infrastructure that “a critical failure was the complete absence of an electrical substation, which is a fundamental requirement for industrial operations. Also, certain companies, such as a local PepsiCo facility, faced years of delays due to a lack of proper planning permits (DTCP approval),” she said.
The Manapparai site also lacked necessary security measures, such as CCTV camera installations, the minister said defending the government’s action of initiating the “SIPCOT Revival Mission.” She highlighted that despite significant land allocation, previous projects remained stalled. The government has since initiated tenders for road construction, improved water supply, street lighting, and the establishment of a 110kV electrical substation to attract new industries.
Keerthana emphasised that the government was actively working to resolve these long-standing infrastructural deficiencies to boost local employment.
The SIPCOT Revival Mission involves conducting site inspections and addressing long-standing infrastructure deficits to make the Manapparai industrial park operational, the Minister said and added that the government has completed water supply testing and implemented plans through the Cauvery water project and TNPL to provide water for allocated plots.
Tenders have been issued for road construction and the installation of street lights to improve site accessibility. The government was coordinating with TNSTC to introduce public bus services to the industrial park to help workers commute.
New CCTV camera facilities are being installed to improve site security, she said.
The opposition member further claimed that the Ponnaniyar dam, which was initiated by former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, was the original source intended for the region, and argued that the government’s current plans to source water from the Cauvery were geographically impractical to covere all parts of the constituency.
However, Keerthana countered by saying the state government was actively executing second-phase water supply plans through the TNPL to ensure comprehensive coverage, and maintained that the current government was taking concrete steps to resolve issues that had been neglected for years.
The minister noted that she personally inspected the site on May 26, 2026, and found that despite years of existence, the park lacked basic utilities like water, roads, and electricity, which she is now correcting.
Regarding the water supply concerns, the minister stated that her administration is not relying solely on past plans but is actively implementing a second-phase water supply project through the TNPL to ensure that all areas of the constituency were covered. PTI JSP JSP ROH
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