The trade union of the mills has sternly opposed the government’s move to lease out the State-run Anglo French Textile (ATF) mills to private players.

Instead, the trade union has suggested that the government develop a textile park by combining all the three Textile mills -- AFT Mills, Swadeshi Cotton Mills (SCM) and the Bharathi Textile Mills (BTM) -- and produce garments.

AITUC submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister N Rangasamy seeking his intervention for dropping it. V S Abisegham, AITUC general secretary, stated that two-member private party from Northern India visited the mill on Monday and held a four-hour discussion with the management for leasing out the mill.

He urged the government to avail funds from the Central government for the purpose. It will also provide employment opportunities to nearly 10,000 women.

Abisegam pointed out that the CM just before the elections in 2011, promised modernisation of AFT Mill. When the NTC-run mills - SCM and BTM - were set for closure in 2005, after agitation by trade unions, the government took over the mills.