TN seeks Rs 1,000 cr drought aid from Centre

Taking part in a pre-budget meeting in the national capital, Panneerselvam urged the Centre to allocate the same amount for TN as Maharashtra got to address the agrarian distress and drinking water crisis.

Based on the in-principle approval of the Central Water Commission, the State also demanded funds for the modernisation of Grand Anicut canal system project, estimated to cost Rs 17,600 crore.

Requesting the Central government to consider launching a movement for water conservation, he said there was a need to significantly augment irrigation structures through river system approach for sustainable water management. “The State is pinning its hopes on long-term water conservation projects jointly executed by the State and the Centre,” he said.

Stating that Tamil Nadu was undergoing a severe drinking water crisis, the AIADMK leader urged Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to release funds under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana.

“The vagaries of the monsoon, climatic change, unending inter-state river water disputes and fast depleting groundwater have all led to an unprecedented water crisis in the State,” he said.

Pointing out that the capital city, Chennai, has been frequently affected by natural disasters like cyclone, flood and drought, the Deputy CM requested the Centre to expedite the external funding for the ‘Integrated Stormwater Drain Network’ project, adding that the same may be supported through World Bank aided loans.

The AIADMK convenor also thanked the Centre for expressing its commitment to implement the Godavari-Cauvery linkage project and requested it to take up the project on a priority basis and provide adequate funds towards it.

Panneerselvam also reiterated the earlier demand from the Centre to provide an additional allocation of Rs 6,000 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) for construction of two lakh climate-resilient houses to those affected by cyclone Gaja in Tamil Nadu last year.

Claiming that Tamil Nadu was badly affected due to the GST arrears owed to it by the Centre, he said that the State was deprived of Rs 6,000 crore annually due to the change in devolution criteria. Stating that Tamil Nadu has been successfully implementing GST, the Deputy CM said Rs 4,458 crore was pending as IGST (Integrated Goods and Service Tax) arrears for 2017-18.

He also demanded funds for the Chennai metro rail project, proposed desalination plants, besides the usual grants provided for the local bodies in Tamil Nadu.