The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Centre's projects not taken up: Baalu

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 18, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Centre's projects not taken up: Baalu

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, FEB. 17. The Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, should explain as to why several projects, mooted by the Centre for the benefit of the State, have not been taken up or completed, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and Union Shipping Minister, T. R. Baalu, today said.

In a statement, Mr. Baalu said the Rs. 493-crore Chennai City River Conservation Project, which was launched by the then Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, four years ago, had not been fully executed. A flyover at Chormepet had not come up even four years after the Railways completed its portion of the work. Though the preliminary work had begun for the Sethusamudram project, the State Government till now had not issued the no-objection certificate.

The Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, in his Budget speech last year, announced a Rs.1,000-crore desalination project for Chennai but "why has not the project begun even now?" Mr. Baalu asked.

Mr. Baalu's statement was in response to a resolution adopted by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at its general council recently, blaming the DMK for "betrayal" of the State's interests.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu