Tamil Nadu chief minister, J Jayalalithaa, inaugurated multi-layer double coated board plant of Tamil Nadu Newsprint and Papers (TNPL) at Mandipatti village near Mannaparai in Trichy on 30 January.
"At least 2000 persons will get employment directly and indirectly. With this, the TNPL's capacity has increased to six lakh tonnes a year, and taking the agency to become third in the country," said an official release.
The greenfield factory in Tiruchi district with a capacity of two lakh tonnes a year will make high-end, multi-layer double-coated board for use in the packaging industry and is built at an estimated cost of Rs 1650 crores.
According to officials, the plant will manufacture double-coated white backboard, folding box boards, and liquid packaging boards. The plant will primarily cater to the needs of pharmaceuticals and healthcare sector, food and cosmetics, and publication industry.
With a view to addressing its future growth needs, the newsprint behemoth has identified the village near Manapparai for setting up this plant.
The easy availability of water and proximity to Kagithapuram unit for speedy transport of pulp – an important raw material for the plant – were the important reasons, according to officials.
The plant, built on an area of 303 acres of land in the village, would ensure the industrial growth of Manapparai.
The chief minister also launched an afforestation programme on the Trichy campus to plant 6.8 lakh saplings of 68 species, including teak, coconut and neem.
A centre for conversion of paper and packaging board set up at Mayanur in Karur district at an investment of 30 crores and a cement expansion plant in an area of 50 acres in Kagithapuram were also opened through video-conferencing.