NLC will give 20 additional marks to locals in recruitment: Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: Amid protests over land acquisition for NLC India Limited's expansion plan, industries minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday announced that subsequent to the state government's intervention, the NLC administration has agreed to provide 20 marks additionally to the locals, who have given up their land parcels, in recruitment to the PSU, initially for 1,711 vacancies.The compensation to land owners was hiked to 25 lakh per acre.
Replying to the special calling attention motion moved by members of several parties, including the AIADMK, Congress, PMK, VCK and CPM, Thennarasu said the NLC was meeting a sizeable power requirement of the state. The ongoing acquisition of land was an important step of the public-sector enterprise and the members of the Tamil Nadu assembly should approach the land acquisition issue responsibly.
"Fresh land acquisition is now the most important step for NLC, as land it has in reserve is not fully sufficient to meet our electricity needs. This land acquisition is necessary," Thennarasu said, detailing the state-sponsored talks at various levels between August 18 and March 6 to resolve the issue.
Earlier, the members, who urged the government to act against NLC, said the corporation had not kept its word to the local people. They should not be allowed to take over the land till the NLC makes an agreement to give 1 crore per acre, 10 cents of land and permanent government jobs.
Local ministers M R K Panneerselvam and C V Ganesan had taken part in the talks to support the landowners to get the maximum benefits. The broad demands include permanent jobs, jobs under annual maintenance contracts, increased compensation and rehabilitation.
At a meeting chaired by chief secretary V Irai Anbu, the NLC administration gave an assurance to prioritise the families that gave up their land parcels for the mines and offer 20% additional marks in recruitment for 1,711 vacancies. Negotiations for the payment of the remaining compensation to the owners who gave their land parcels until 2013 are well under way and nearing completion.
Based on that, the amount, which was 23 lakh per acre has now been increased to 25 lakh per acre. Thennarasu said the chief minister had announced a high-level committee to ensure that the locals get the jobs and had given instructions to the ministers and officials to see that the compensation, jobs and rehabilitation were taken care of.