Kerala Wants Relaxation On Transport Of Stone Aggregates
The two Governments had consistently worked together in a spirit of cooperative federalism to promote the welfare and economic development of the people.
Chennai: Requesting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to kindly intervene and consider granting suitable relaxation to the ban on transport of rough stones and construction aggregates or evolving an appropriate mechanism to facilitate their uninterrupted transportation to Kerala, the Chief Minister of the neighboring State, V Satheesan sought a balanced approach to meet the legitimate requirements of nationally important infrastructure projects without compromising on the policy objectives of Tamil Nadu.
Reacting to the three month ban imposed by Tamil Nadu on the transport of rough stones and construction aggregates to the neighbouring States of Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, Satheesan wanted the relaxation of the ban to complete the ongoing National Highway and other nationally significant infrastructure projects in Kerala.
Such a measure would not only assist in ensuring the timely completion of these projects but also reinforce the spirit of cooperation that had always characterised the relationship between the two States, he said.
Looking forward to the kind consideration and positive response, he said Kerala and Tamil Nadu had always shared a unique and enduring relationship founded on geographical proximity, cultural affinity and a long tradition of mutual cooperation.
The two Governments had consistently worked together in a spirit of cooperative federalism to promote the welfare and economic development of the people.
Tamil Nadu, through a Gazette Notification (No. 306 dated July 9), has introduced provisions regulating the inter-State transportation of rough stones and other construction materials, which had affected the movement of stone aggregates from the districts of Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanyakumari to Kerala, he said.
Those districts had traditionally been the principal source of stone aggregates required for the execution of several National Highway projects in Kerala, which had limited availability of suitable stone aggregates for large-scale infrastructure work, he said.
The projects were of immense significance not only to Kerala but to the southern region and were expected to strengthen regional connectivity, improve logistics efficiency, facilitate trade and tourism, and enhance access to important economic hubs in both States, he said.
The road projects would also provide seamless connectivity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport and the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam, contributing significantly to the economic growth and competitiveness of south India, he said.