CHENNAI: Joining issue with DMK president M Karunanidhi on the alleged neglect of the Central Institute of Classical Tamil (CICT), School Education Minister KC Veeramani on Tuesday said the CICT was an autonomous institution fully under the control of the Central government. All committees for this institute are being appointed by the Union Human Resources Development Ministry.
“Karunanidhi has tried to create an illusion that Central Institute of Classical Tamil is a State government institution. Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa is the ex-officio Chairperson of the Governing Board of the Institute and she had allocated time for the meeting of the Board. But the CICT had ignored it,” the minister said in a statement here.
On the selection of eminent persons for the awards of the Institute, he said it was the responsibility of the CICT and not Tamil Nadu government. In this connection, Veeramani recalled the various measures taken by Jayalalithaa for the grwth of Tamil language and literature during the successive governments headed by her.
‘Will Meet Demand’
Meanwhile, Electricity Minister R Viswanathan countered the allegations made by PMK founder S Ramadoss with regard to the power situation in the State.
Charging the PMK leader with attempting to gain political mileage, he explained the severe power shortage prevailing when Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa assumed office in May 2011, and gave a detailed account of the efforts taken by her to improve the situation in the last three years.
With the 2.500 MW of installed capacity enhanced during the past three years, 500 MW being received through medium term agreements, 3,300 mw to be received through the long-term agreements and the 2,000 MW of installed capacity to be added this year, the TNEB would definitely meet the projected demand of 14,500 MW during the 2014-15, the Minister asserted. The power requirement of the people of Tamil Nadu is being fulfilled taking into account all possible aspects and not just taking into account the wind power energy received for about four months in an year, he added.