TILE FACTORY IN COLLAPSING STAGE

Madikeri Jan.4: The only tile factory in Kodagu which was running under profit is turned to a monumental spot after, the administration neglected the work. The mismanagement caused the collapsing of the industry and temporary closure of the unit. Thousands of workers lost their job.

The tile factory is situated in Ichoor village in South Kodagu. It has the history of 50 years. Previously the factory was producing yearly 11 lakh tiles. Annual profit exceeded Rs. 3 lakh.. Flower pots were also manufactured in addition to the tiles.

Presently the factory is closed and the waste flower pots are lying. The various instruments are scattered. Heating apparatus are dismantled. Machineries are damaged. No body is answerable for the deterioration. The factory has total six acres of land. Three buildings are constructed and the lack of maintenance affected the structural strength of these buildings and looks like monumental centers.

The factory was managed by the industrial department and in due course was handed over to the Kodagu Zilla panchayath. Arun Machaiah, the ex. M.L.C took personal interest and improved the condition of the factory during his regime through Z.P.The supervision was then transferred to Mayamudi village Panchayath. Again the descending started. The state Govt, the public representatives or Zilla panchayath or the Mayamudi Panchayath administration is least bothered about the worst condition of the unit.

Previous Govts have sanctioned promotional funds. Where these funds gone? Why such negligence by the concerned? All these doubts are not questioned in the Z.P.meetings. The iron materials, roofing materials of the building, machinery parts are being carried away by he looters. The produced tiles had the best marketing as the quality was good. Even, the flower pots manufactured here had the large scale marketing as the products contained plenty of attractive designs to be kept in house premises and also business places.

The Govt had reserved 10 acres of land for providing earthen material to the factory. Now, the land seems to be occupied by encroachers. “Who has to bell the cat?” the question remains unanswered,

Photo 1: Broken machineries

Photo 2: Damaged heating apparatus

Photo 3: Neglected building