Monday, January 30, 2012

Tamil Nadu a victim of Centre’s “persistent indifference”

Chennai, January 30, 2012

Making it clear that it would not compromise on its rights on the Mullaperiyar Dam issue, AIADMK government in Tamil Nadu on Monday alleged it was a victim of the Centre's "persistent indifference" and accused Kerala of whipping up "mass fear and insecurity" over the row.



"The attempts on the part of Kerala to whip up mass fear and insecurity through false propaganda have been the primary cause of these (recent violent) incidents," Governor K. Rosaiah said in his customary address to the first session of the Tamil Nadu assembly this year.



"Tamil Nadu is all for ensuring the safety of the dam and I earnestly appeal to the people of Kerala not to succumb to such malicious campaign," he said, outlining the government's policies and priorities in his first address since becoming the governor.



He said the state government was committed to maintaining cordial relationship with all neighbouring states but Tamil Nadu was a victim of the "persistent indifference" of the Union Government besides "false and parochial" campaigns launched with "short-sighted political interests." "We also urge the Government of India to direct the Kerala government to abide by the decision of the Supreme Court," the governor said.



Tamil Nadu would not compromise on its rights and livelihood of its farmers and would defend them in all appropriate fora and courts of law, Mr. Rosaiah said.



He said Tamil Nadu had shown the utmost restraint and ably handled the recent incidents relating to the Mullaperiyar Dam.



The row had intensified since November with both Tamil Nadu and Kerala sparring over the latter's insistence on building a new dam in place of the 116-year old Mullaperiyar reservoir, causing tension in border areas of both states.



Kerala has been citing safety concerns for its demand to decommission the dam, which feeds five southern districts in Tamil Nadu, under whose control it comes on a 999 year lease.



1.85 lakh crore outlay for 12th plan



Notwithstanding the 'negativities' of the global economic slowdown and its impact on the state, Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it planned for an "ambitious" outlay of Rs 1.85 lakh crore for the ensuing 12th Plan, almost doubling the size compared to the 11th Plan.



"For the ensuing 12th Plan, the state Government plans an ambitious outlay of Rs 1.85 lakh crore for plan schemes, more than double the size of the Eleventh Plan outlay of Rs 85,000 crore," Governor K Rosaiah said in his customary address to the Tamil Nadu Assembly.



This would put the state back on track, even as investments were slowing down in the wake of the economic slowdown and growth projections for 2011—12 had considerably scaled down at national level and the negative impact on Tamil Nadu would be "inescapable," he said.



"Notwithstanding these negativities,this Government is determined to ensure that spending by Government towards infrastructure and social security is not compromised in any manner," he said.



Further the state government's Vision 2025 document will be released shortly by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, he said, adding, a Bill will be introduced during the coming Budget session for the formation of the Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board.



The Board would serve as an institutional framework for conceptualisation, prioritisation and speedy implementation of critical infrastructure projects, he said.



A separate Infrastructure Development Fund would be constituted to give a fillip to implementation of critical projects. "In this direction, this Government will also come out with a new Public Private Partnership Policy to synergise the resources of the Government and Private Sector in project implementation," he said



The Opposition DMK boycotted the Governor's address after attacking the AIADMK on different fronts.



As Mr. Rosaiah got up to deliver his customary address, DMK Legislature Party Leader M.K. Stalin rose and started reading out a prepared speech. The Governor told Mr. Stalin that the Assembly had been convened to discuss all issues but Stalin continued to read and later led a walkout of the DMK MLAs.



The Governor urged the Centre that at this "crucial juncture," the proposed Dam Safety Bill 2010, should ensure that the safety of dams be entrusted to the Dam Safety Cell of the state owning the dam, instead of where it is situated.



Ms. Jayalalithaa had already opposed the bill, saying it was against Tamil Nadu's interests.


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