Even though the BJP-led Union government adamantly refuses to release sufficient financial assistance to Tamil Nadu for implementing development schemes, the State government will continue to utilise its resources judiciously for taking Tamil Nadu to greater heights, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said in Tirunelveli district on Friday (February 7, 2025).
Inaugurating completed schemes and laying foundation stone for new development projects in Palayamkottai, Mr. Stalin said the Tamil Nadu government sought ₹37,907 crore assistance from the Centre after the southern districts of Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi and Chennai suffered severe damage in the floods in December 2023. Even after two Central Ministers visited the flood-affected areas, the Union Government released only ₹276 crore, which was not even 1% of the actual demand.
“Tamil Nadu, which finds only a place in the Indian map, does not find any place in the Union Government’s Budget repeatedly. Without allocating any funds for Tamil Nadu, the BJP leaders only seek votes from Tamils during elections. The BJP just ignores Tamil Nadu while releasing huge sums of money for development schemes and special schemes of BJP-ruled States and the states being governed by its allies. Notwithstanding the biased treatment being meted out to Tamil Nadu, we are using our own resources judiciously to take Tamil Nadu to greater heights and make the State numero uno,” Mr. Stalin said.
The Chief Minister, without naming the DMK’s arch rival the AIADMK, said the adversaries were criticising the Tamil Nadu government as they could not tolerate the developments Tamil Nadu was enjoying on all fronts.
“They want to obstruct the development of Tamil Nadu, but they will fade away on their own as we want to change the face of the southern districts like Chennai and Coimbatore through hefty industrial investments for creating lakhs of employment opportunities here itself,” Mr. Stalin said.
Archaeological excavations being conducted in Tirunelveli and neighbouring Thoothukudi district which are yielding interesting artefacts including the use of iron by ancient Tamils and proof for the Tamils’ expertise in farming by retrieving food grains during excavations. The ‘Porunai Museum’ being established on Palayamkottai outskirts for showcasing the artefacts retrieved in Sivakalai, Aditchanallur and Korkai will be ready for inauguration before April this year, Mr. Stalin announced.
The silver car of Swami Nellaiyappar temple will be ready before November this year, the Chief Minister informed.
He laid foundation stone for 20 new projects to be implemented at the cost of ₹309.05 crore and inaugurated 24 projects executed on an outlay of ₹1,371 crore.
The long-drawn Tamirabharani – Karunmaeniyar – Nambiyar linking project, which has been implemented on an outlay of ₹1,060.76 crore to take the surplus water of the Tamirabharani to the dry regions of Nanguneri, Thisaiyanvilai and Sathankulam taluks by digging 73-Km-long flood carrier channel to link the other two rivers was also inaugurated by the Chief Minister. Even though the scheme’s estimate was only ₹369 crore in 2007, the undue delay in completing the project owing to various reasons has massively jacked-up the project cost beyond ₹1,000 crore.
“After two years of trial run by releasing the surplus flood water of the Tamirabharani in this flood carrier channel, we’ve inaugurated this work,” Mr. Stalin said.
He formally inaugurated the work of the first phase of western bypass road connecting Konganthaanpaarai on Tirunelveli – Kanniyakumari Highway and Thaazhaiyooththu on Tirunelveli – Madurai Highway via Tharuvai, Abhishekapatti, Maanur.
Mr. Stalin also handed over welfare measures to the tune of ₹167 crore to the beneficiaries. While Kaani tribes received patta for their lands, the Maanjolai tea estate workers were given free houses.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker M. Appavu, District Collector K.P. Karthikeyan, Corporation Commissioner N.O. Sukhaputra, Commissioner of Police, Tirunelveli city, Santosh Hadimani, Ministers, MPs and MLAs participated in the function.
