Thane-hit areas to get 1 lakh houses
The state government will construct one lakh concrete houses at the cost of `1,000 crore to replace the damaged huts in the cyclone-affected districts like Cuddalore and Villupuram, Governor K. Rosaiah said on Monday.
Delivering his customary address for the new session that is on till Feb.4, Mr Rosaiah said the construction would be taken up immediately.
He said the CM had ordered taking up of re-plantation of perennial crops, particularly cashew, with grafted seedlings under high density planting by meeting the entire cost of planting and maintenance for one year and also the distribution of mini-kits with seeds and other essential inputs for taking up re-cultivation of annual crops in the affected fields.
He said the government was focusing on permanent rehabilitation measures for the distressed farmers as their livelihood had been destroyed due to complete damage of perennial crops like cashew, jackfruit and coconut. A 2-minute silence was observed for the Martyrs’ Day.
Infra projects on fast track
The state government will constitute Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB) for quick implementation of critical infrastructure projects in the state. A Bill will be introduced in the coming Budget session of the state Assembly, Governor K. Rosaiah told the Assembly on Monday.
The board would serve as an institutional framework for speedy implementation of critical infrastructure projects. A separate infrastructure development fund will be constituted by the government to give a fillip to implementation of critical projects, Mr. Rosaiah.
He also announced that the government would unveil a new public private partnership policy to synergise the resources of the government and the private sector in project implementation.
“We will strengthen infrastructure along the potential industrial corridors to promote speedy growth of industrial clusters and achieve a balanced industrial development,” he said.
The Governor pointed out that in the fast growing information technology enabled services (ITES) sector also, Tamil Nadu needed to reinforce its dominant position in software exports by taking the lead as India’s hardware hub.
“In this regard, we will constitute an expert committee with representatives from industry to evaluate the potential and advise the government on the way forward to attract more investments in hardware manufacturing,” he announced.
On effluents discharge into Noyyal river, the Governor said the government had already sanctioned Rs 179 crore to restart the closed common effluent treatment plants. In addition, Rs 75 crore was provided to the pollution control board to compensate farmers in Noyyal ayacut pending determination of compensation sum by the court.
TN wants rethink on riparian issues
Calling for a rethink on the present institutional framework “as several inter-state river water disputes remain unresolved for many years”, Governor K. Rosaiah urged the Centre that the proposed Dam Safety Bill, 2010, should ensure entrusting the safety of dams to the Dam Safety Cell of the state owning the dam, instead of the state where it is situated.
Delivering his customary address, the first after he took over a couple of months ago, Mr Rosaiah said Tamil Nadu had often been the “victim of false and parochial campaigns launched with short-sighted political interests and the persistent indifference of the Union Government” since Tamil Nadu was a lower riparian state. He pointed out that the state had shown utmost restraint and ably handled the recent incidents relating to Mullaiperiyar Dam.
Flaying Kerala’s attempts to whip up mass fear and insecurity through false propaganda, the Governor appealed to the people of Kerala not to succumb to such ‘malicious’ campaigns.
“The government will not compromise on the rights of our state and the livelihood of our farmers and will defend our rights in all appropriate fora and courts of law,” the Governor said.
DMK walks out of house
DMK MLAs, led by party’s treasurer M. K. Stalin, boycotted the Governor’s address on Monday and staged a walkout, attacking the AIADMK government on various fronts.
Even as Governor K. Rosaiah rose to deliver his customary address, Stalin read out from a prepared text. Mr Rosaiah told him that it was not the appropriate time to raise issues and continued with his address. Met by loud protests from AIADMK members, Stalin, however, continued to read out from the text and staged a walk-out along with other DMK MLAs. Assembly Speaker D. Jayakumar later said Stalin’s remarks were expunged from the records.
Talking to reporters after staging a walkout, Stalin accused the AIADMK government of not carrying out the relief work properly in cyclone-hit Cuddalore district. He also said the law and order situation had deteriorated in the state. He said the administration was paralysed because of frequent transfers of IAS and IPS officers.
