Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa took a dig at the Centre for ignoring the State’s ‘legitimate’ demands, including support for infrastructure development.

“We have repeatedly demanded action on critical issues affecting our State but the Centre has failed to take cognisance,” she said at the 57th meeting of the National Development Council chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in Delhi to approve the 12th Plan.

Tamil Nadu has been hit by the attitude of the Centre.  Every single legitimate request of the State has been turned down or ignored and every initiative stymied.

Inadequate support for the State Government’s infrastructure initiative and lack of access to the Central Government department is resulting in delays and cost overruns for projects such as airports, metro-rail and road projects.

The Centre has been completely ineffective in playing its constitutional role in ensuring that the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal is duly notified so that it can be implemented and the rights of Tamil Nadu as a lower riparian State protected.

“Even a simple request from a State public sector unit for a Digital Addressable System Licence for Chennai has not been granted on totally extraneous considerations,” Jayalalithaa said.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW