Coimbatore, Oct 17 (KNN) With the Master Plan for the city being finalized shortly, the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) from Coimbatore have sought reclassification of lands as industrial and residential areas.

The Coimbatore Local Planning Authority is looking at finalising the revised Master Plan for Coimbatore in a couple of months.

Talking to KNN, V. Sundaram, President of Coimbatore District Small Industries’ Association (CODISSIA), said, “When a township develops, the industries come up in the outskirts. After that the employees start buying land around it and the area starts to develop. Then the real estate developers come up with some plans, properties in that area. Slowly, the area develops as a residential area.”

“Then the residents complain of pollution from the industries and other things. There is also a problem in power distribution in that area to industries and residences,” Sundaram said adding that these things make it very essential for reclassification of the lands.

He said a lot has changed in the last 20 years so there is a pressing need to make a new master plan.

The MSMEs in Coimbatore want reclassification of the land so that the units which are not creating air, water and noise pollutions are allowed to be where they are and the units which need to shift are allotted proper lands.

Sundaram said, “Areas such as Kalapatti and Vilankurichi had several small and medium-scale industries earlier have become residential areas now. Similarly, there are areas with rising industrial activity.”

CODISSIA has submitted the applications from the MSMEs for reclassification to the corporation. (KNN Bureau)