CM Palaniswami reviews PWD and Highways projects, OPS flies to Delhi

Sources said the review meetings were in line with the preparation for the continuation of the Budget session in the Legislative Assembly. All the ministers had been told to carry out an exhaustive review of their portfolios and prepare proposals for funding towards existing projects and schemes, besides recommending new initiatives. 

While some had forwarded their proposals to Palaniswami, the rest were expected to wrap up their reviews and send the same soon. The state is also mulling to convene the Assembly shortly to move demands for grants for individual ministries. In March, Panneerselvam had presented the Budget for fiscal 2018-2019 with an outlay of Rs 75,722 crore earmarked for subsidies. It is Rs 5,140 crore more than the revised estimates for the fiscal concluded in March with Revenue Expenditure set as Rs 1,93,742 crore against Total Revenue Receipts (TRR), including Central Transfers, estimated at Rs 1,76,251 crore.

The deputy CM is expected to meet at least four union ministers in New Delhi. Panneerselvam would also take up the case of the Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 15th Finance Commission with the Centre during his visit. 

He would reiterate the state’s stand to use the 1971 Census instead of 2011 Census. He would also meet Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari and present memorandums. The other subjects he might take up include the judiciary. Earlier, the deputy CM had a high-level meeting of his peers. The meeting comes at a time when the state is witnessing protests demanding that the Centre withdraw Governor Banwarilal Purohit besides the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).