Kerala govt resolute on reviving sick PSUs: Achuthanandan

Kochi, Dec 18 (UNI) Asserting the LDF government's resolve to revive sick public sector undertakings (PSUs), Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan today exhorted the workers and managements of these units to work together to prove the critics wrong.

Inaugurating the 'IV stage expansion membrane cell caustic soda plant' of the Travancore-Cochin Chemicals (TCC) Ltd at Udyogamandal here, Mr Achuthanandan said that PSUs were often derided as white elephants these days.

It was upto the workers and managements of the PSUs to work together to prove the critics wrong, he added.

Stressing the LDF government's commitment to reviving sick PSUs, he said the government had already taken several steps to this end.

Castigating the previous UDF government for neglecting PSUs, Mr Achuthanandan said the UDF rule was a ''graveyard for industrial units''.

State Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem was also present on the occasion.

Travancore-Cochin Chemicals Ltd Managing Director M P Sukumaran Nair said with the commissioning of the new 25 tonnes per day plant, the installed capacity will go up to 175 tonnes per day of caustic soda and allied products.

The TCC, which was established in 1951, is engaged in the manufacturing of basic chemicals, such as caustic soda, chlorine, hydrochloric acid and sodium hypochlorite.

Mr Nair said the TCC was in the forefront of regular upgradation of technology and was thus keeping up its competitive strength in the chlor-alkali industry in the country.

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