A new factory will be opened in place of the defunct Excel Glass in Alappuzha. According to the State Budget presented by Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac on Thursday, the new factory will start functioning in 2020-21.
Excel Glass has remained closed for the past 10 years. In 2010, the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) and the Kerala Financial Corporation (KFC) had rejuvenated it by sanctioning loans. However, after reopening in 2011 the factory was shut down again without repaying the loan.
“In this circumstance, the government financial institutions will take over the movable and immovable properties. Further, the government will give compensation to the retired and other labourers,” Dr. Isaac said. For providing compensation, ₹4 crore has been earmarked in the budget.
Rice park for Alappuzha
The budget proposes to establish a model Global Kerala Centre in five acres owned by NoRKA at Mavelikara. An amount of ₹5 crore has been earmarked for renovating the monument of Thakazhi at Ambalappuzha and ₹1 crore has been set aside for conserving the house of Velayudha Panicker at Arattupuzha.
Dr. Isaac said 6.5 acres owned by the Housing Board at Kalavoor would be acquired by paying market price for the Alappuzha development programme. A tax complex would be constructed at Alappuzha. The budget also envisaged a rice park of international standards in the district.
An amount of ₹10 crore had been earmarked for construction of a women’s hostel and fitness centre at Infopark, Cherthala. Work on the Chengannur bypass project would be undertaken.
As part of the first phase of the spices route and heritage tourism projects, heritage museums, canal renovation and restoration, and modernisation of factory and port buildings would be completed in 2019-20.
Renovation of roads and bridges, construction of transport hub, and completion of remaining museums would be undertaken. The Alappuzha canal region would be transformed into a showcasing zone of cultural heritage, Dr. Isaac said.
“It is expected that at least half of five lakh travellers visiting Kuttanad backwaters could be enticed to Alappuzha. It will help rejuvenate the town and create employment on a large scale,” he said.