10,000 cr boost for power, edu in TN

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday announced a massive package worth more than Rs 10,000 crore under which the infrastructure of government schools, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, thermal power plants and government colleges would be improved.

Palaniswami, under the Assembly Rule 110, said that Chennai will get two combined cycle gas turbine plants at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore and each power plant will be able to produce 730 MW.

As per the direction of Supreme Court and to reduce the air pollution from five thermal plants, the State will purchase equipment for Rs 3,000 crore. The new equipment and technology are expected to play a major role in reducing the dust that emanates from thermal plants.

To improve the power supply and address the long-pending demand of residents of Nagapattinam, overhead lines for about 100 km will be replaced with underground cables at a cost of Rs 300 crore. New sub-stations with a capacity of 230kV will be set up in Tiruvannamalai, Namakkal and Tirunelveli districts. The State government also announced that 150 new posts for assistant engineers would be created in Tangedco to address the staff shortage in the department.

To ensure student safety, 2,650 government schools will be brought under CCTV cameras at a cost of Rs 21 crore. “As envisaged by our late leader J Jayalalithaa in her vision 2023 document, the government schools will be improvised. Special training for headmasters of government schools and teachers are also planned at a cost of Rs 61 crore and this will enhance the quality of education in all government schools,” the Chief Minister said.

To improve the standard and infrastructure of government schools, CM also announced a sanction of Rs 163 crore. Schools will get better toilets, ramps and rails for special children, modern labs and classrooms will be repaired. The CM further said that shoes and socks for students of all government schools will be given at a cost of Rs 10 crore.

----

The State government held an all-party meeting at the Secretariat after the Assembly session ended on Monday. Following the meeting, Deputy Chief MinisterO Panneerselvam said that the government will soontake a good decision on the issue of providing 10 per cent reservation for economically weaker. At the meeting chaired by O Panneerselvam, 21 parties including DMK led by MK Stalin participated and expressed their opinion on the issue. At least 16 parties opposed reservation while five parties including Congress, BJP, CPM, Tamil Manila Congress and Puthiya Tamilagam supported the reservation. However, the ruling AIADMK government is yet to take a decision on the issue. Panneerselvam, while addressing the media, after the meeting, said, “A good decision would be taken soon. The decision will not impact the 69 percent reservation policy of the State”.