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Chief Minister: No info from Centre on Semmozhi Institute merger
Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami informed the House that he had received no information on the proposal to merge Semmozhi Research Institute (Central Institute of Classical Tamil) with Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN) and assured that adequate measures would be taken on such proposals, if any emerged from the Centre.
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The Chief Minister’s reply came when DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu sought the House to adopt a resolution against the proposed merger of the Semmozhi Institute with the CUTN. The legislator observed that the proposal by Niti Ayog would hamper the autonomy of the Semmozhi Institute functioning under the Ministry of Human Resources Development, besides reducing it to a mere department in the Central varsity with limited functional flexibility.
“This reasserts the Centre’s firm stand on promoting Hindi and Sanskrit at the cost of other regional languages,” Thangam Thennarasu said.
While replying to it, Palaniswami revealed that the construction of a separate campus in 17 acres in Perumbakkam, near Sholinganallur, is under way for the Institute, which is now functioning from the Institute of Road Transport Campus in Taramani.
“As chairperson of Semmozhi Research Institute neither me nor the state had received any such proposal to merge it with the Central University. The state would take adequate measures on receiving information from the Centre,” Palaniswami said.
The CM observed that the Institute is instrumental in helping Tamil scholars and senior researchers in various projects that project the pride of Tamil language and its classicality globally.
Will reclaim Katchatheevu: Jayakumar Replying to the call attention by DMK MLA KPP Samy on the recent legislation proposed by Sri Lanka to penalise Indian fishermen, Finance and Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar vowed to reclaim Katchatheevu from the island nation.
“The Chief Minister had already taken the Lanka legislation issue with the Centre. Ceding of Katchatheevu during the DMK regime in 1974 had shrunk the boundaries of India, while expanding that of Lanka’s and woes began thereafter,” Jayakumar rued.
“The State is committed to reclaim Katchatheevu,” he added, besides trading charges with the DMK in this regard.
Bills to amend Acts on V-C appointments introduced
Bills amending the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Law University Act 1996, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Universities Act 2012 and the Tamil University Act 1982 in terms of appointment of Vice-Chancellors and the concerned search panels were moved on Tuesday. The statement of objects and reasons of all three Bills observed that there was no qualification prescribed for the members of Search Committee making recommendation of the candidates to the Chancellor, which is state Governor in case of these three Universities. “Further, no limit has been fixed to make recommendation by the Search Committee to the Chancellor for appointment of Vice-Chancellor and for preparing the panel of suitable persons for the appointment as V-C”, it read.
No nod for Hydrocarbon projects
As Leader of Opposition MK Stalin demanded the House to adopt a resolution on not according sanction of Hydrocarbon projects in state in the backdrop of protests in Neduvasal and Kathiramangalam, Industries Minister MC Sampath said that the Centre would respect the sentiments of the state which is committed against any projects affecting farmers. “The Chief Minister has already written to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas in this regard,” Sampath replied.
Schemes announced Under Rule 110
AGRICULTURE DEPARTMENT
- Centre of Excellence for Bio-Technology would be established at the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University in Coimbatore at a cost of Rs 430 crore
- Cultivation of hybrid varieties of vegetables such as tomato and brinjal which require lesser quantity of water with higher yield would be promoted in 11,250 acres in 22 districts at a cost of Rs 9 crore
- Solar-powered pump sets to be offered to 1,000 farmers with 90 per cent subsidy at Rs 44.94 crore
- As many as 597 'Pack Houses' to store, grade and sort horticulture produces at a cost of Rs 2 lakh each with a total expenditure of Rs 11.94 crore
REVENUE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT
- Rs 52.4 crore for purchasing communication, search and rescue equipment for Chennai Corporation, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, Metro Water, Coastal Security Group, Forest department, PWD, Home Guards, Highways, and District Collectors
HIGHLIGHTS OF FISHERIES GRANTS
- Rs 500 crore Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project Neighbourhood Development Scheme to build cold storage and modern fish market, landing facilities at Uvari
- Groynes at Koothankuzhi and Perumanal, a net mending shed at Kootapanai forms part of scheme
- Land identified for construction of fish processing centres in 13 coastal towns
- Rs 6 crore virtual reality centre at Chetpet Eco park nearing completion
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