THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Nov 23: More than Rs 8,000-crore worth of projects of central PSUs in Kerala are hanging fire for want of clearance from central and state government, according to an official document with the state industry ministry.

Firms like Balmer Lawrie and Co, Hindustan Organic Chemicals (HOC) Ltd have been clamouring not only for funds but also for assistance in getting additional land for expansion activities, uninterupted power supply, adequate water supply and even policy support.

Cochin Shipyard (CSL) alone had sought an investment of Rs 366 crore for additional facilities for ship repair and for facilities for construction of small engineering works. Hindustan Newsprint Limited (HNL) and the FACT Ltd had asked for Rs 48 crore and Rs 88 crore for 100 TPD delinking plant and 900 TPD sulphuric acid plant, respectively. Cannanore Spinning and Weaving Mills Ltd, which has a modernisation and revival package pending before BIFR, had sought Rs 9.8 crore as central assistance.

Lack of additional land in the land-starved state has also been a major factor in limiting the expansion of these companies. While HOC needed as much as 200 acres in Kochi, Balmer Lawrie and Co had been seeking central assistance to purchase six acres at Aroor, 40 acres in Cochin Port and 20 acres in Kundanoor.

Alagappa Textiles, meanwhile, had sought assistance to sell its surplus land in Thrissur.

Almost all central PSUs in the state have demanded uninterrupted power supply to them, while Hindustan Insecticides Limited (HIL), HOC, Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL) and Cochin Refineries Limited (CRL) also need adequate water supply.

The Balmer Lawrie & Co Ltd has urged alternate assistance as a 100 per cent export-oriented unit (EOU). The company has sought the refund of the difference in the cost for captive power generation and State tariff rates.

It has also demanded the supply of diesel at a concessional rate to compensate the incremental cost of captive generation.

While HNL has pressed for forest raw materials as per the agreement and by special allocation, Instrumentation Ltd was awaiting a speedy decision on its BIFR revival package.

Hindustan Machine Tools Ltd (HMT) has urged the state government to sanction Rs 2 crore for installing a DG set and Rs 14 crore for modernisation.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.