COIMBATORE: The State government is acting on a “war-footing” to tackle the spread of dengue fever in parts of the State, said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami here on Saturday. On a day when one more child, S Maheshwari (6) from Keeranur in Pudukkottai, died in Tiruchy GH due to suspected dengue, the Chief Minister told reporters at the Coimbatore International Airport that fogging exercise and steps to create public awareness were in full swing.
Palaniswami was on his way to Tirupur to participate in former Chief Minister MGR’s birth centenary celebrations in Tirupur district. Asked about the comments made by Kamal Haasan, the Chief Minister said he will answer if the actor entered politics.
On the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), he said the State was constantly asking the Centre to exempt TN students from the NEET for medical admissions. “Five State ministers met Narendra Modi and Union ministers, and requested them to exempt our students from NEET.”
Regarding the AIADMK, he said the party was “under one roof”. We learnt through media that Kavundampalayam MLA V C Arukutty came out of the O Panneerselvam camp. The party will welcome Arukutty again,” the CM said.
“A Metro rail is a long-pending dream of Coimbatore people. The State has announced this in the Assembly,” he said.
On the farmers’ protest in Delhi, the Chief Minister said “the protest is their personal interest”. He refused to elaborate.
‘Avinashi-Athikadavu water scheme within 30 months’
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday assured that the Avinashi-Athikadavu water scheme would be implemented in the State within 30 months with the State’s own financial sources and without the help of the Centre.
He was speaking at MGR birth centenary celebrations at Rayarpalayam in Tirupur.
“Avinashi-Athikadavu project was proposed for the welfare of the people and farmers of Coimbatore, Tirupur and Erode districts by the late CM J Jayalalithaa. We have sanctioned Rs 250 crore to review the project. Expert team said the project can be started without the Centre’s help if the water was pumped from the Bhavani at Kalingarayapuram. So, we have decided to implement it without the Central help,” he said.
‘Ensure release of TN fishermen, boats’
Chennai: Bringing to the notice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi the arrest of 12 more fishermen from Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts on July 16 and 21 by the Sri Lankan Navy, CM Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday charged that the heightened intolerance of the island country could be seen from the fact that even the traditional crafts (vallam boats) engaged in fishing using gill nets are being apprehended in the Palk Bay waters.