The Coimbatore division of the Small Industries Development Corporation (SIDCO), in a common memorandum to the contestants for assembly elections, put forth its expectations from them.

The document, which was shared with Covai Post, said that the SIDCO industrial estate and its surrounding areas comprises of 500 units of industries. But, for the last five years, the SIDCO estate is water-starved.

The Integrated Infrastructural Development (IID) water scheme has also not provided a solution to the water problem, though the stakeholders, namely the industrial units, have paid 20 percent of the total project cost to SIDCO.

All the industries, in one way or the other, borrow loans from the financial institutions. The lending institutions insist on registered mortgage of immovable property like land and building before disbursement of loans.

About five years ago, the charges for mortgage of documents were a flat Rs.5000 per document. It has now been increased to Rs.25,000. This hefty burden on industries is unjustified. The document stated that the industries cannot afford to spend huge amount every year.

The document also said that SIDCO should stand as a bridge between the government and small industries, to disseminate the various scheme of the Government to bottomline entrepreneurs. Further, through the same document, SIDCO also made a request that the Pollachi road on the SIDCO stretch be widened and made a four track road with medians and road dividers.

SISCO is in the process of forming a new industrial estate. It stated that the Government should implement single window license clearance, without much hurdles. SIDCO also expects the government to establish a skill development training centre and a material testing laboratory, with full funding and subsidies.