Co-op banks not ordered to stop jewel loan, clarifies CM

“The banks were instructed to issue jewel loans depending upon their financial position and not above their prescribed limits. This is to ensure that customers do not face problems while withdrawing their deposits. If banks give away the entire amount as loan, then they will be left without money to return to depositors,” he explained the media after chairing a meeting with industrialists, farmers and officials at the Krishnagiri collectorate.

The CM’s statement comes amid the DMK and other opposition parties slamming the government for deciding to stop jewel loans issued through co-operative banks.

On the opposition to acquisition of farmlands for Bharat Petroleum’s proposed Irugur- Devanagonthi Pipeline (IDPL) project, Palaniswami said that the government has increased the compensation amount from 10 per cent to 100 per cent to farmers.

“Also, the acquisition will be done only if farmers voluntarily give their land for the project,” he said.

On DMK leader MK Stalin’s demand to give Rs 5000 to COVID-19 affected families, the CM said, “A dole of Rs 1000 to all cardholders and free rice till July has been given. The Amma Unavagams were feeding around 7 lakh on a daily basis. More relaxations have been announced in the functioning of industries, carrying out farm and other essential activities to ensure that the livelihood of people is not affected,” he said.

Slamming opposition parties for not co-operating in the battle against COVID-19, the Chief Minister said that Tamil Nadu has been testing maximum numbers of people for the infection on a daily basis. “Even on Tuesday, 42,000 persons were tested. More than 600 fever camps were set up in the Chennai corporation limits and 30,000 workers deputed for door to door testing. Due to such concerted efforts the COVID-19 spread is coming down. The government has been taking efforts to reduce infections in another ten days,” he said.

The Central government has given a total of Rs 672.59 crore to Tamil Nadu so far for COVID-19 relief works, the CM said.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami unveiled the foundation stone through a video conference from Krishnagiri on Wednesday for setting up an international flower auction centre at a cost of Rs 20.26 crore in Hosur. The auction centre is likely to be a boon for farmers as it would revamp the existing middlemen-trader dominated pricing system and align prices to global demand. Currently the flower growers are following prices fixed by traders, which were not so remunerative. Later, the CM participated in meetings with members of MSME’s, representatives of farmers associations and members of women self help groups. 

“Barring Chennai, the industries in other districts are permitted to function with 100 percent staff. It was possible because of the efforts made by the government in containing COVID-19 spread,” he said. Pointing out that several firms are looking forward to investing in Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said the government has been issuing faster clearances for them through a single window system. Then, the Chief Minister inspected the repair works underway at KRP dam. In Salem, the Chief Minister inaugurated the Kandhampatti four lane road flyover constructed at a cost of Rs 33 crore