Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday for the second time appealed to political parties and the common man to cooperate with the construction of the Chennai-Salem expressway.
He accused political parties of standing in the way of the project for political gain and said that that the highway would have several advantages that should be focused upon. "The highway is not only for Salem. That portrayal is terribly wrong," said the CM, "distance would reduce by at least 60 km, therefore travel time, fuel and fuel costs would come down, too, which would also reduce pollution, incidents of accidents will also decrease" he added.
This statement was in response one made by the leader of the Opposition and working president of the DMK MK Stalin, who demanded an expert committee which would take into consideration the people's opinion be formed to find alternative routes and measures to the Chennai-Salem project.
"This sort of dictatorship will not work. Those who are exercising their democratic right by protesting are being arrested," he said, accusing the government of unleashing the police on public and political parties alike.
"Tamil Maanila Congress tried to hold a public meeting to discuss the woes of those affected but the demonstrators were all arrested," Stalin said.
The CM, however, held that the project was for the benefit of the people. "During the DMK period, over 3000 km of land were acquired for several road construction projects," he said and promised adequate compensation for all those whose land will be acquired for the project.
