Separate state for Kongu region is not about separating from the rest of Tamil Nadu but this is about fulfilling global dreams of Kongu region and taking kongu products to the world. The demand for Kongu Nadu state goes back to 1980s when one of the prominent, well respected Dravidian movement leader from Kongu region Thiru. Kovai Chezhian left AIADMK and founded “Tamil Desiya Katchi”. The party failed miserably in all the elections it contested but the idea lived on even after his death in 2000.

Out of 54 years of the rule of Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu, DMK ruled the state only for 21 years between 1967-1976, 1989-91, 1996-2001 and 2006-11, and the AIADMK ruled Tamil Nadu for 30 years. DMK’s tenures 1996-2001 and 2006-11 spelled disaster for Kongu region to an extent that DMK is still getting rejected outrightly by Kongu region in the last 3 consecutive elections.

What is the reason for this strong anti-DMK sentiment in this region?

With the onset of the LPG (Liberalization, Privatization & Globalization) era in 1991 by the PV Narasimha Rao government, the hitherto sleepy Kongu region got the much needed steroid boost with businesses bustling, especially the garments businesses in Tirupur which picked up momentum.

Sadly, the city of Coimbatore was shattered with serial bomb blasts at 11 places, killing 58 people, and injuring more than 200 people, which came right after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi.

This instilled fear among the residents and triggered reverse migration of people to their native homes in other districts and states. It took at least another 5 years to pick up the lost momentum of industrial growth

Dynastic politics and nepotism came to be the hallmarks of DMK’s rule during 2006-2011 with law and order going downhill. There was an atrocious murder of a Senior Management professional inside his office chambers, forcing that well known brand to move all their new investments outside Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu also faced its worst ever power crisis with 17.6% shortage in supply vs demand which happens to be the highest shortage that any state faced during that time. Power generated through wind mills installed in Kongu region were also wheeled to supply uninterrupted power in Chennai, forcing the small businesses to operate their units through diesel gensets which increased the cost of production multifold.

For example, TNEB which used to supply power at ₹7/Unit but power generated through diesel generators came at cost of ₹17/Unit. Many micro and small businesses shut down their businesses since it became economically untenable to run business operations at high power bills.

Thus, the pathetic rule of DMK from 2006-11 still remains fresh in the minds of the entrepreneurs and even lay people of the Kongu region.

What do the people of Kongu want?

Now, let us look at some of the development projects that this region is aspiring to achieve which are not just economically viable but also ecologically sustainable.

Smart City for Palani

 There is an old saying that  ‘கொங்குநாட்டில் குன்றுதோறும் குமரன்’ (Kongu Naatil Kundrudhorum Kumaran) which means, wherever you see a small hill there will be a Murugan Temple. It is estimated that at least 1.0 Crore devotees visit Palani temple every year. Lakhs of people do “Padayatra” pilgrimage every year during the month of Jan-May and offer their prayers. We also have lakhs of pilgrims from other states and countries like Malaysia, Mauritius, Srilanka visiting Palani for the Thai Poosam festival.

Palani deserves a smart city plan on the likes of Ayodhya with the modern cost effective facilities. The hill temple doesn’t provide easy access to elderly and disabled. It’s high time that a higher capacity cable car facility is established through a global tender on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) model.

Currently, the world’s largest Murugan Statue is in Batu Caves, Malaysia. It would be very fitting and blissful for the pilgrims and tourists if another largest Murugan statue is built in Palani.

Coimbatore Airport Expansion

Hon’ble Chief Minister MK Stalin submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister last month in which there was demand for a second airport in Chennai. This is shocking especially when there is an expansion project ongoing at Chennai airport with an investment of ₹2,467 Cr, to handle 3.0 Cr passengers by end of 2021, making it 3rd largest airport by passenger handling capacity after Delhi and Mumbai.

So, why should preference be given to another airport in Chennai instead of completing land acquisition for expanding Coimbatore airport and complete its construction?

Coimbatore needs a larger airport so that wide bodied aircrafts can land and thus making it possible to have direct connection with Europe and other countries.

MITRA Textile Parks

In the Union Budget 2021-22, the Central Govt had announced setting up Mega Textile Investments Parks at 7 locations across India. State government must take Initiative and work closely with the Central government to bring at least one park to Tamil Nadu. Currently India holds just 3% of global garment exports, whereas China holds 49% of the global garment export market share. There is significant scope for economical development and employment opportunity must be tapped at the earliest. State government needs to identify a land parcel of about 1000 acres and submit a proposal with the Central government to take this forward.

Greenfield Cargo Airport in Kangeyam

Oddanchatram Vegetable in Dindigul district is one of the largest wholesale vegetable markets in the South and the recently passed farmer empowerment laws offers ample opportunity for the farmers of the region to explore direct export of farm fresh vegetables to Middle East nations. Dedicated Cargo Airport would help this region to connect with the world. This cargo airport can also help Tirupur garment exporters to send their materials directly.

Last year Tirupur alone exported garments worth ₹25,000 crore and also supplied goods worth ₹30,000 crore to the domestic market. Another town in this region Karur exported made-up textile worth ₹3,000 crore every year. Out of total exports in India 1,41,400 Cr, Kongu Naadu contributes about 20% share.

The region which has remained neglected for years saw  good attention during the last AIADMK regime when Edappadi K. Palaniswami, a son of the soil was Chief Minister. However, there is a lot that can be done to unleash the region’s potential which will happen when Kongu Nadu becomes a separate state.

But the state cannot be created by the Central government unless there is a strong demand in the form of a movement by the people. It is to be noted that the struggle for Telangana took more than five decades to bear fruition.

Time has come now for the idea planted by Thiru. Kovai Chezhian to flourish as the pristine Kongu Nadu that can keep away the DMK for good from the region.

(Views expressed are the author’s own)

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