CHENNAI: From drought and cyclone relief funds to NEET exemption, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday presented a memorandum containing 23-point charter of demands relating to various sectors in Tamil Nadu to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The meeting that took place at the residence of the Prime Minister lasted 45 minutes.
The key demands included immediate disbursal of Rs 39,565 crore for drought relief, Rs 22.573 crore for reconstruction works in the coastal districts affected by cyclone Vardah, ‘on account’ release of Rs 2,500 crore for immediate drought relief works, presidential assent for the two Bills passed by Tamil Nadu Assembly on exempting the State from NEET examination, formation of Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, interlinking of peninsular rivers and allocation of entire power of 2,000 MW to be generated in units three and four of Koodankulam atomic power plant.
Detailing the drought condition prevailing in the State, the memorandum said the State Government was evolving various projects to mitigate the impact of drought in 2017-2018 and urged the Centre to consider allocation of at least Rs 750 crore under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana and release the funds without any restrictions.
A revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) at an estimated cost of Rs 3,523 crore for the Athikadavu-Avinashi Irrigation, Ground Water Recharge and Drinking Water Supply Scheme had been sent to the Central Water Commission on December 18, for approval and sanction under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana.
“The Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme is to be implemented only based on flood surplus flows, without affecting the rights on river water. Hence, the Ministry of Water Resources should be instructed to grant speedy approval for the project,” it said.
Reiterating a host of demands for fisheries sector and for the welfare of fishermen, the Chief Minister said the Comprehensive Special Package for Diversification of Fisheries which totals up to Rs 1,650 crore with a recurring component of `10 crore should be approved at the earliest. He also underscored the need for including fishermen in the list of Scheduled Tribes.
Urging the Prime Minister to release the funds for compensating Tamil Nadu for the adverse treatment by Fourteenth Finance Commission, he said the State would be eligible to get around Rs 4,500 crore as the shortfall in share of central taxes devolved by the Centre for the period from 1996-97 to 2014-15.
To mitigate the effects of cyclone Vardah, a number of transmission overheads and other equipment had to be established in Chennai Metropolitan city, he said the cost estimate for carrying out the above works was Rs 17,000 crore. The Ministry of Power could be requested to release this amount either as grant or as a soft loan through Rural Electrification Corporation or Power Finance Corporation.
He requested the Prime Minister to allocate an additional quantity of 85,000 MTs of rice per month under the National Food Security Act at Rs 8.30 per kg instead of Rs 22.54 per kg (MSP rate).