Aditya Birla group to set up Knowledge Park in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 5 (UNI) The Aditya Birla Group has evisaged interest to set up a 'Knowledge-based Industry Park' at Mavoor in Kozhikode district, Kerala Industries Minister Elamaram Karim said today.

Talking to newspersons here, the Minister said about 400 acres of land belonging to the Grasim Industries Ltd's Mavoor Pulp and Fibre Units, which was closed down in 1999, would be utilised for the purpose.

He said Grasim had already commissioned an international firm to undertake a detailed feasibility study and as per the interim indications the land had the potential for setting up a knowledge based industry, including IT park. The detailed report was expected in the next six-eight weeks.

He said, a former employees' leader at the Mavoor factory, said the liberalised economic policies initiated by the Narasimha Rao Government in the 1990s and environmental problems led to the closure of the factory which was set up in 1962.

After the closure of the factory, the Birla group wanted to sell the land. But the government took a stand that as the property was handed over to them for industrial purpose, it could not be utilised for some other purpose. It was proposed to them to start a new non-polluting industry at the site. Now, all the disputes relating to the earlier company had been settled amicably and the government would give all encouragement to set up the Knowledge park as early as possible, the minister added.

UNI