Plastics ban: Tamil Nadu has set an example for India – Edappadi K Palaniswami

TENKASI: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said his government would welcome any Central scheme and project so long as it helps Tamil Nadu while stoutly opposing schemes detrimental to the state's interests.

Listing out the various projects, including the launch of major hospitals and medical colleges in districts, that have been implemented with Central funds and approvals, he said the government had placed requests for clearance of medical college hospitals in Krishnagiri, Nagapattinam and Thiruvallur districts.

"We have appealed in this regard to the Prime Minister and also the Union Health Minister. All this is becomes possible only because of our good relations with the Centre, but the DMK has been carrying out a false propaganda that our AIADMK government is a slave of the Centre", the CM said.

"They (DMK) were the slaves of the Union Government when they were in power here in the state and held ministerial positions at the Centre. What projects did they procure for Tamil Nadu and what were the funds they could get from the Centre? Only the (Karunanidhi) family benefited, enjoyed the fruits of office", he said.

Elaborating on the Central projects readily embraced by his government for implementation in Tamil Nadu, CM Palaniswami said the state has set an example in the effective implementation of the Central ban of one-time use plastics for the entire country. Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement on October 2 that India would phase out single-use plastics by 2022 and the Kerala government's decision to ban single -use plastics from January 2020, he emphasised that Tamil Nadu was the forerunner in this initiative.

Also, Tamil Nadu under AIADMK rule has been a 'high performing state', he said with pride at the ceremonious function organised to mark the inauguration of Tenkasi district here.  CM Palanisamy also stated that since he assumed office as Chief Minister, the government received around 9.72 lakh petitions from the people, of which 5,11,186 petitions have been taken up for consideration and 23,532 petitions have been disposed of positively.

 He said that of the 453 government orders issued in the year 2017-18 for the implementation of developmental schemes, 88 schemes had been fully accomplished and  280 schemes were under implementation, while 74 are at the DPR stage, nine schemes await Central government's approval and two have been stalled as cases against those schemes are pending in the court.

Palaniswami once again reiterated that the local bodies' elections are sure to be conducted whatever be the obstacles, stressing that the State Election Commission (SEC) has been working on the process and
schedule.