Chennai: Averring that not a single drop of water would go waste, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday said his government would take up a massive conservation work involving the construction of check dams throughout Tamil Nadu.
A sum of Rs 1,000 crore has been allotted to build the check dams, he announced and assured that all the water bodies in TN would be protected. "In the coming monsoon season, the rainwater will be saved for public use and not wasted into the sea," he said while addressing a rally at Tambaram here that was held as part of the ruling AIADMK's 46th anniversary celebrations.
During the one-hour speech, the CM also informed that the rainwater harvesting scheme initiated by late CM J. Jayalalithaa would be implemented with renewed vigour. Turning to the power scenario, he said it was in a miserable condition in the DMK government. "DMK minister had openly admitted that if the party would lose the election, it would be because of power shortage. But now TN is free of power cuts and is power-surplus state," he said. Taking strong exception to the Opposition parties criticising his government as "benami" government subservient to the Centre, he said, "people should know that we must ensure development of the state and for that, we need the support of the Centre. We must ensure development of Tamil Nadu through new projects and schemes and additional allocation of funds from the Centre. Only for this, we are working closely with the Centre."
Contending that it was nothing new for the AIADMK government to work in cooperation with Delhi, he said, "even during the days of MGR, our government had worked in close cooperation with the Centre for securing benefits for the state through projects and funds allocations. Our late leader Amma had also followed MGR's policy of being friendly with the Centre. We are following the same policies. This is not for our selfish gains, this is only for ensuring the good of Tamil Nadu and our people." The CM accused the DMK, which had once aligned with the BJP, of adopting dual standards now.
"The AIADMK is the only party in the country that functions in an entirely democratic manner sans any family considerations….I have no political backing and came up only by working hard for the development of the party. I have contested in Parliament elections thrice and Assembly polls six times. But you (Stalin) grew in the party (DMK) only because of your father's clout," Mr. Palaniswami said.
