Salt manufacturers urge T.N. CM to renew licences

Salt manufacturers on lands belonging to the State government in the Thirukazhukundram taluk near Kalpakkam and in Kadambadi have urged the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to direct officials to renew their licences. 

An industry source said that though around 3,500 acres of lands were originally leased out for salt manufacturing, now production was underway in about 900 acres. “It is a long strip of a land about 150 families would be dependent on these lands. The respective district collectors have already been told to renew the licences by the Commissioner of Land Administration. But somehow it is taking time here,” he explained. 

Vimal, a worker at a pan near Kalpakkam said that they were producing salt for some more days this year than usual due to the weather. “It is a seasonal business. So, if we get more working days, we get some more money. Many smaller salt pans in the Kovalam and Kelambakkam area managed by individuals have closed down due to non-extension of licences,” he said. 

A manager at a pan said that these lands had been manufacturing salt for many decades and they cannot be put to any other use. “There is highly concentrated saline underground. And every monsoon these lands get flooded with waters from inland,” he said. 

The non-extension of licences for salt manufacturing on lands belonging to the State government is not limited to these locations. There are similar lands in Ramanathapuram, Nagapattinam and Thoothukudi. Ponraj of the CITU in Thoothukudi said they were planning to write to the government asking that lands be handed over to the individual owners, who were presently working on them. “We are hearing that plans are afoot to lease out such lands to MNCs. We will oppose any such move. Smaller lease holders should not be harmed in any manner,” he added.

The State also has salt pan lands owned by the Central government. The issue of licence renewal for these is under arbitration.