No ‘fiscal discipline’ in state, charges Opposition Leader

Referring to editorials that appeared in newspapers on the recently presented budget, Stalin noted “all the editorials in the leading dailies were alarmed due to the whopping debt the budget indicated.” 

He hit out at the government for failing to keep its poll promises. 

“The manifesto promised peace, development, no-drought and growth. However, things are opposite now. Going by the present scenario, the government has miserably failed to protect law and order too,” he said. 

Stalin cited instances like Marina violence and Neduvasal protest as indications of deteriorating law and order situation in the state. “The death of JNU scholar Muthukrishnan has also instilled fear among the parents of students in the state and they are hesitating to send their wards to other states and countries,” he said. 

The LoP blamed the government for not taking steps to increase power generation saying even the previous power projects were yet to pick up pace. However, Minister for Electricity P Thangamani denied the charges and said, “works to generate 18,000 megawatts are in full swing and the state will continue to remain power-surplus like in the previous years.” 

Confronting the government over the demand for waiving of agricultural loans, Stalin said, “The state government has not demanded the Centre for funds and it has not waived agricultural loans.” 

He further raised a question over ‘Vision 2023.’ “What happened to Vision ‘2023,’ for which the government allotted Rs 15 lakh crore. It does not seem to be a realistic vision, but just a dream,” he said and put forth figures of financial budgets for 2016-17 and 2017-18 stating that there was no difference between the two budgets. 

Replying to his speech State Finance Minister D Jayakumar said that he had already answered these questions. “However, I will submit detailed reports,” he assured. 

Minister for Local Administration S P Velumani on Friday announced in the Assembly that tenders for two new desalination plants will be floated next month to tackle water crisis in the city. To a question raised by Congress MLA K R Ramasamy on drought situation and water scarcity, the minister replied “While one desalination plant will produce 150 MLD of water a day, another plant will provide 400 MLD a day. The first plant will be established with the help of a Singapore-based company and the second will be set up with the help of Japan-based company,” the minister said, assuring that they would float tenders next month. 

State Transport Minister M R Vijayabaskar in the Assembly announced that pendency in disbursing pension will come to an end soon. The minister, to a question, said the transport department had short-listed a total of 65,000 beneficiaries. “It is a fact that the department is by and large facing loss of revenue. However, we will settle the pension to the transport employees on March 28,” he said. The government received a shower of complaints on such issues and witnessed many protests by beneficiaries for the arrears. “We are aware of the issue and a total of Rs 74 crore should be disbursed to the transport employees and we will provide it soon,” the minister said.