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DMDK seeks more grant for transport department
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder Vijayakanth urged the government to allocate necessary funds for the Transport Department for which debate on demand for grants would be taken up in the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
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Referring to the number of buses operated by the state-run Transport Corporations, the former Leader of Opposition said, “These corporations cover as much as 90 lakh kilometres through its daily operation fleet of 22,456 buses which use nearly 18 lakh litres of diesel incurring a cost of Rs 12.79 crore, of this as much as Rs 1,148 crore goes into the coffers of the state and Centre as VAT.”
Advising the government, the actor-turned politician mooted the idea of paying insurance premiums as against the deductions made on account of Gratuity under the Payment of Gratuity Act 1972. “The money which works out to Rs 210 crore per year is now being utilised to cover for administrative expenses,” Vijayakanth said.
It may be recalled, “In 2018-2019, the state government will infuse share capital of Rs 600 crore into the STUs for purchasing and inducting 3,000 new buses. With 2,000new buses sanctioned during 2017-2018 and with these 3,000 new buses, we will be replacing all 4,593 old buses that have been in use for more than 10 years,” Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said while presenting the Budget.
Panneerselvam said the government would be providing a ‘ways and means’ advance of Rs 900 crore in this Budget to the STUs to settle their pending liabilities to financial institutions and staff commitments, as a one-time measure.
“An amount of Rs 2,717.34 crore has been allocated for the Transport Department, which includes Rs 799.25 crore as subsidy for free bus passes to students and senior citizens,” he said.
Consult people on major projects, says Premalatha
Madurai: DMDK women’s wing leader Premalatha has said that the state government should have got the opinions from people before launching the Salem-Chennai eight lane Green Corridor Project, which is facing protest from many, including farmers.
Talking to reporters at Thoothukudi airport on Sunday, she said people were angry over the project since the contractor seems to be a relative of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and it would pave way for corruption in the funds allotted for the project. While responding to a query, Premalatha said protest for everything would affect the growth of Tamil Nadu in terms of development.
But, people, who protest against the road infrastructure project, should decide whether the eight lane highway was a necessity. Lands were being acquired not only for road infrastructure projects, but also for commissioning airports, which could attract more development projects. Thoothukudi is being developed owing to the presence of airport and similarly Salem, which is aiming to get a new airport, would be developed further. However, the government should provide adequate compensation for land owners soon after taking over their lands.
On Sterlite issue, she said, lab test on water samples lifted from A. Kumareddiyapuram village, which is located near the Sterlite plant in Thoothukudi, proved that water was contaminated and unfit for drinking, agriculture and also for construction purposes too.
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