The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Government will not allow any violence, says Karunanidhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 28, 2007
ePaper


<SCRIPT language='JavaScript1.1' SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/adj/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> </SCRIPT> <NOSCRIPT> <A HREF="http://ad.doubleclick.net/jump/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?"> <IMG SRC="http://ad.doubleclick.net/ad/N4322.hinduonline/B2155503.3;abr=!ie4;abr=!ie5;sz=468x60;ord=[timestamp]?" BORDER=0 WIDTH=468 HEIGHT=60 ALT="Click Here"></A> </NOSCRIPT>

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Government will not allow any violence, says Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

Congress member raises arrest of Sri Lankans, seizure of iron balls in House

CHENNAI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government will not allow any violence in the State, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi assured the Assembly on Saturday.

Referring to Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarsanam's appeal to ensure tranquillity in the wake of the arrest of Sri Lankan nationals and seizure of iron balls a few days ago, the Chief Minister said such reports would be a setback at a time when everyone was keen on solving the Sri Lankan problem amicably.

He said a team of police officers of the `Q' branch had gone to Maharashtra for investigation.

On the financial condition of the State, Mr Karunanidhi said though the Government had made adequate allocations for all its major welfare schemes, it had also ensured that the fiscal deficit was well within three per cent of the State's Gross Domestic Product, as prescribed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The Government would not become bankrupt and there would be no decline in its revenue. In nine months of the current financial year, the Government netted revenue receipts to the tune of Rs. 24,548 crore.

Revised estimates of the receipts were calculated at Rs. 38,732 crore. The expenditure incurred so far on account of several schemes, administrative overhead and capital works was Rs. 23,594 crore. Compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, this year's receipts were about 20 per cent more.

With the introduction of the State-level Value-added Tax, the State Government might suffer losses of Rs. 2,200 crore this year.

The Centre would bear 75 per cent of it. His Government was ready to bear the losses, in public interest.

Those who failed to renew their registration in employment exchanges during 2001-2003 would be given an opportunity to do so.

Those who failed to renew their registration in 2004 and 2005 were allowed a similar opportunity.

The age relaxation of five years had been granted. In addition to an outlay of Rs. 722.4 crore for several road development works, the Government, in response to requests from several legislators, decided to earmark Rs.230.17 crore for 280 works, covering a length of 918 km.

This would cover state highways for 433 km and major district roads for 485 km.

Japanese experts

On the Hogenakkal water supply scheme, the Chief Minister said Japanese experts were visiting the area. If, for any reason, the Japanese agency could not provide financial support, the State Government would work out alternative measures for implementing the scheme.

Permanent shelters

On the construction of permanent shelters for tsunami victims, he said that by the end of this financial year, about 33,000 houses would be completed. Besides, the Government had taken steps for expediting the construction of 18,800 houses. Tenders had been invited for 3,000 houses, to which non-governmental organisations had committed themselves but opted out later.

The Government had decided to build 22,000 natural disaster-resistant houses in vulnerable areas of coastal districts at a cost of Rs.2.1 lakh per unit.

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

Tamil Nadu