Jayalalithaa Seeks Huge Central Investment, Assistance For Tamil Nadu

 Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi a memorandum listing projects and schemes involving central investment and assistance running into several thousands of crores of rupees.

Jayalalithaa submitted the memorandum when she met Modi at his office in New Delhi.

According to the memorandum, copies of which were distributed to the media here, Jayalalithaa sought a comprehensive special package for the fisheries sector involving a sum of 1,520 crore and a recurring grant of 10 crore per annum.

She also sought central assistance to the tune of 2,250 crore for setting up solar power transmission infrastructure.

Jayalalithaa also urged the central government to release the 1,576.87 crore shortfall in central grants and 7,039.96 crore towards central sales tax compensation.

The memorandum also urged the central government to fund 50 percent cost of the three desalination water projects planned in the state involving an outlay of 8,442.53 crore.

On the transport infrastructure projects, Jayalalithaa wanted central investment in the railway projects mentioned in the state government's Vision 2023 documents at an outlay of 188,400 crore.

Tamil Nadu also wants central funding for expressway projects involving an investment of 21,320 crore and also for the peripheral ring road project to the tune of around 4,800 crore - 40 percent of the total project cost.

She also sought substantial central funding of the 10,000 crore scheme for modernisation of the police force including housing facilities.

The CM also requested a separate line of assistance for an underground sewage system involving a total project cost of 20,820 crore and considerable central funding for urban housing schemes at an outlay 29,200 crore.

The memorandum also sought sanction for various river linking projects and also for modernisation of the canal system in the Cauvery Basin at a total outlay of 18,949 crore.