‘Centre made changes in schemes to suit Tamil Nadu’

Participating in the debate on motion of thanks on Governor’s address, DMK MLA J Anbazhagan asked “Why do you now agree to several schemes opposed earlier by late CM Jayalalithaa?” “Big projects like UDAY, GST Bill, Port-Maduravoyal elevated expressway and National Food Security Bill had been accepted by the government after the demise of Jayalalithaa,” he pointed out. 

Replying on Ujwal DISCOM Assurance Yojana (UDAY) scheme, Electricity Minister P Thangamani denied any political motive behind the state government’s acceptance of the scheme. “The former chief minister opposed this scheme, in which the consumers should pay extra charge once in three months. Hence, this was not accepted by the then CM and she sought an amendment to this norm. Later, the Centre made some changes prompting the state government to accept it,” he clarified. 

Edappadi K Palanisami, while explaining the Port-Maduravoyal project, said, “Since the pillars constructed for elevated expressway went through waterways (the Cooum) and affected the river’s ecology, the project was stopped. However, the National Highways Authority of India approached us with a reworked blueprint. 

Accordingly, we have given a new chart and it is with the Union Ministry of Road Transport,” he said and added that proceeding with the project had nothing to do with politics. On Goods and Services Tax Bill, Minister for School Education and Sports and Youth Welfare K Pandiarajan, said “we accepted the bill now as the state can receive Rs 3, 000 crore a year from the Centre as compensation.”

 He admitted that the late CM was not in favour of the bill, as there were many hurdles earlier. But, the Centre clarified on the issues and all the states in the country had accepted the bill.