KOZHIKODE: The hopes that came alive after reports on the possible resurrection of Grasim Industries still owned by the Birla group in Mavoor with a host of eco-friendly projects two years back, died as both the government and Grasim failed to reach common ground over the control and ownership of the land. The dilapidated building structures scattered over the 330 acres land at Mavoor panchayat reminds one of the haunted site of a defeated army. Grasim Industries popularly known as the ‘Mavoor Gwalior Rayons’ of Birlas closed down in 2001 after facing a series of agitations by local communities due to several cancer-related deaths in the region. In the 330 acres vast land, the Birla group had bought only 82 acres whereas the rest of the land was acquired by the state government for the project.
Interestingly, the three successive governments including the present LDF government made a series of attempts to either take over the land or coerce Grasim to launch its own project on the land. But all efforts proved futile. Though Kinfra, the infrastructure development agency of the state government which was monitoring the ‘Grasim revamp’, cleared a draft proposal submitted by the Grasim management, nothing has materialized so far. The plan was to launch a general manufacturing and services’ Park on 100 acres and a hi-tech manufacturing Park in 50 acres. A skill development Park is planned on 75 acres to train the youth in the area. Another 100 acres will be utilized for infrastructure development and associated activities.
The UDF government even made a move to take back the land as the company failed in resuming industrial activity. PTA Rahim MLA who represents the region told DC that the Grasim management should either launch its own industrial project or start something on its own. “Earlier the Grasim management had stayed the move by the state government to take over the land”, he added. However protests are simmering among the people over the failure of the state government to launch the industrial park at the land. A Pradeep Kumar MLA told DC that Grasim had been trying to torpedo any move by the government to start any industrial project on the land. The state government made sincere moves to utilize the project but Grasim was yet to act positively, he added.
