"Lull" in the Execution of Sethusamuthiram Project: Karunanidhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Wednesday while he was addressing a press conference in Tiruchi said that there was a lull in the execution of Sethusamuthiram Project and added that sethu project issue was now before the Supreme Court.

He further pointed out that the Government of Tamil Nadu and the people of the state have never agreed to divert the Sethu Project on a new route.

Mr Karunanidhi is in Tiruchi to launch of "Kalaignar Housing Scheme", a mammoth effort of his government to provide concrete houses to over 21 lakhs of rural hut dwellers by 2016.

Karunanidhi further said that the DMK would insist the Centre to withdraw the hike of excise duty on diesel.

" Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had informed me on what ground the Centre had hiked the excise duty on petroleum products", Karunanidhi added.

However, the hike of excise duty on diesel would adversely affect the interest of the farmers, he felt.

The revenue mentioned in the Union Budget for the year 2010-11 was nine lakh crore, of which Rs 7.5 lakh crore was tax revenue, while 1.5 lakh crore was non-tax revenue, which resulted in revenue shortfall of 5.5 per cent in the GDP, he clarified.

Karunanidhi substantiated the centre's action and said as per the central finance commission's norms, the deficit in the revenue should be less than three per cent, under these circumstances, to make up this deficit; the Centre has no other alternative other than to hike of the excise duty on petroleum products.

A delegation of DMK MPs, led by T R Baalu met, the Prime Minister and insisted to reduce the hike of the excise duty on petroleum products, he added.

Replying to a question whether DMK party would join the Opposition to stir to urge the Union Government to reduce the hike of excise duty, he said his party would make its stand on such issues based on public opinion and debates. But, the party would not stall the proceedings in Lok Sabha , he added.

To a another question, he said he would write to the Union Railway Minister Ms Mamta Bannerjee to allot adequate funds for the ongoing railway projects in Tamil Nadu, which was neglected in the recent railway budget.

On reported demand of Pattali Makkal Katchi President Dr Ramadoss that the by-election to the Pennagaram assembly constituency should be postponed further, Mr Karunanidhi evaded the reply.

Karunanidhi also indicated that the present alliance between the DMK and Congress would continue for the ensuing elections to the State Assembly whenever it comes.

Mr Karunanidhi made the statement during the press conference, when a reporter drew his attention that there were talks that elections to the State Assembly would be advanced soon after the proposed World Tamil Classical Language conference to be held at Coimbatore in June next. The state election due in 2011.

- Asian Tribune -