THOOTHUKUDI: Officials should work hard to ensure that the benefits of the schemes enacted by the DMK government led by Chief Minister MK Stalin reach the target population, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said, during a review meeting held at the district collectorate here on Thursday.
Presiding over the meeting, Udhayanidhi Stalin inspected the progress of the petitions received under CM's Mudalvarin Mugavari, Makkaludan Mudalvar and Neengal Nalama schemes. he inquired about the disposal of public petitions demanding patta transfer, issuance of various certificates and welfare assistance, and the reason for the pending cases and rejection of petitions.
Reviewing the progress of the works of Kalaignar urban development scheme, road works, development projects, flood restoration works and other schemes, Udhayanidhi urged the officials to ensure that the services benefit the deserving people. Appropriate action should be taken on the petitions received under Mudalvarin Mugavari, Makkaludan Mudalvar and Neengal Nalama schemes, he said.
The chief minister has provided mini tidel park, international furniture park, and a Tiruchendur master plan project, at an outlay of `300 crore, for the welfare and development of the district. The officials concerned must implement the projects at the right time without compromising quality, he said, and also distributed welfare assistance worth Rs 206.47 crore to 7,893 beneficiaries at the collectorate campus.
Speaking to reporters, Udhayanidhi said that review meetings are being held at all the districts on behalf of the Special Programme Implementation Department. The projects being executed for the past three-and-half years under all departments are subjected for review to know the timeline for completion and reason for delay, if any.
Ministers Geetha Jeevan, Anitha R Radhakrishnan, Special Implementation Department Secretary Dr Darez Ahamed, Mayor Jegan Periyasamy, Collector K Elambahavath, SP Albert John, legislators MC Shanmugaiah, Markandeyan and Urvasi Amirtharaj and other dignitaries were present.
Kanimozhi's absence triggers buzz
When asked about the absence of Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi at the review meetings, the deputy chief minister said that she has gone abroad for an emergency, and clarified that they both would jointly attend a function in Thoothukudi within the next 10-15 days. However, the absence of Kanimozhi Karunanidhi during the meetings has triggered a buzz within party circles and officials, sources said.
Kanimozhi was not properly informed prior about the review meeting in Thoothukudi. The district collector had cancelled the parliamentarian's District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee's (DISHA) quarterly meeting scheduled for November 12, in view of the deputy chief minister's review meeting. However, the same was not conveyed to her properly, leading to the confusion and her subsequent absence at the review meeting, party sources confirmed.