BEL planning to revive defunct explosives factory in Katpadi

The TEL Board is readying a lease agreement, which will be sent to BEL this month. If accepted, BEL will invest Rs 50 crore and provide employment for nearly 300 persons, sources said.

SIPCOT officials said, “We aim to develop an industry which will use local talent at the location and the TEL is on the Vellore–Chittoor Highway with Chennai being only two hours away.”

Needless to say when news of the proposed move leaked, “agents” got into the act at both Chennai and Katpadi to hire staff for a commission. To this, top-level TEL officials said, “BEL will choose staff based on its needs as it is also involved in defence production for the Central government. Hence, locals who rely on such agents will be doing so at their own risk.”

Meanwhile, SIPCOT, through the government, plans to take over 70 acre of land for developing industries in the area. Rs 17 crore was handed over to TEL some months ago with which the facility settled the retirement benefits of most staff and workers. Land taken over by the government for SIPCOT has no direct connection with the main factory, sources said and added that the 700-acre forest land in which the unit is located will continue to be vested with TEL.

SIPCOT officials arranged for visits by various industrial houses – one of them shied away stating that the area had bad ‘vastu.’ The move attained urgency due to Vellore district losing industries to Ranipet (SIDCO, SIPCOT, BHEL ancillaries, dry leather units) and Tirupattur (tanneries and shoe upper units at Ambur and Vaniymbadi) after trifurcation.