CM brings up Mekedatu, Metro issues at meeting

In a 92-page memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister, he also requested the Centre to cancel the permission given for conducting a survey for building a new dam in Mullaiperiyar by the Kerala government.

Palaniswami handed over the memorandum to Modi after he laid the foundation stone for the AIIMS in Madurai. It also sought conferment of ‘Bharat Ratna’ on former chief ministers CN Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa.

The memorandum, listing various demands, called for bringing three towns —Salem, Hosur and Neyveli under the regional air connectivity scheme UDAN. He also said the Prime Minister should take steps to protect the fireworks industry which provided livelihood to eight lakh people in the state.

Apart from withholding the Dam Safety Bill, Palaniswami also urged Modi to revise the norms for scale of assistance under SDRF norms and long term mitigation and permanent relief for Cyclone Gaja affected districts, permanent Cyclonic Mitigation Measures for fishermen, permanent Naval Station for carrying out Operations by Indian Navy and the Coast Guard, communication equipment for sea going fishermen, Special assistance towards compensation for the unfair treatment meted out by 14th Finance Commission to Tamil Nadu, early clearance of Climate Change Projects for funding under Green Climate Fund (GCF) and National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).

He also demanded that the GST amount due for Tamil Nadu should be released immediately.

The Chief Minister also urged the PM to take steps to rename the Chennai Central Railway Station after AIADMK Founder MGR as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr MG Ramachandran Central Railway Station.

He also demanded sanction to Phase-II of Chennai Metro Rail Project under 50:50 joint venture partnership basis.

The Prime Minister was here to inaugurate a slew of projects in the state.