Employees against shifting Cipet HQ

Chennai: Opposing Central government’s resolution to shift the Central Institute of Plastics Engineering & Technology (Cipet) headquarters from Chennai to New Delhi, employees of Cipet urged the administrative ministry to revert the order as the move would result in derailment and hamper the growth of the institute.

The 48-year-old building at Guindy industrial Estate, inaugurated by the then industries minister and former President of India R. Venkataraman, serves as a pride to Tamil Nadu.

Besides offering diploma programmes in plastic technology, plastic mould technology and processing technology, the semi-commercial centre manufactures and moulds plastic products, tests products and conducts research programmes.

“There were many such instances earlier. Tamil Nadu government dropped the proposal when it was made by the  Centre in 1999,” said P. Balakrishnan, chairman, United Forum of Cipet Union.

The move aggravates members as they feel that the corpus fund would be affected. “Cipet was upgraded with the inclusion of new diploma / PG diploma courses and increased the scope of technical services, considering the advancements and needs of the plastic industries,” added Balakrishnan.

“The Central government said that they took the decision due to ‘ineffective management’. The body has generated '375 crore during the XI Plan in which Rs 180 crore achieved as a cash surplus whereas Cipet could able to generate only Rs280 crores during 1968-2006.

This shows Cipet is on growth path,” said A.G.S. Neelakandan, organisation secretary of the forum. Cipet’s growth rate is in contrast to the under performance of many public sector units under the ministry of chemicals & fertilizers, Government of India including HOCL, HIL, IPFT, HFL, said the forum members.

“The order has to be reverted. We also want to be assured that such type of proposals should not taken in future,” said the members, adding that they would protest against the government, if their demands are not met.