E-pass process to be simplified, assures Chief Minister

Meanwhile in Madurai, stating that AIIMS Hospital, for which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, laid foundation last year, will come up as expected, the Chief Minister inaugurated a 900-bed COVID-19 care centre established at ELCOT campus at Vadapalanji near Madurai Kamaraj University. The centre was equipped adequately with oxygen cylinders and ventilators, he said. Health Minister C Vijayabaskar, Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan and others were present.

Speaking to reporters after the review meeting in Dindigul, the Chief Minister reiterated the government’s stand on maintaining the dual language policy (of Tamil and English), which was the dream of the former chief ministers, including CN Annadurai, MG Ramachandran and J Jayalalithaa. The State government stood firm in this policy and a notification was also issued already, he said.

Referring to the precautionary measures taken to tackle heavy rain as predicted by the IMD in parts of Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister said the government is taking adequate measures to protect the people. Heavy rains pounded the Nilgiris and local Ministers had been inspecting the rain-hit areas to render assistance.

Further, on Nainar Nagendran, who is in two-minds after joining BJP after parting ways with AIADMK, the Chief Minister said, his party is ready to accept Nagendran if he wishes to return.

On actor-cum-politician SVe Shekher’s remarks that the Chief Minister knew Hindi, Palaniswami said it’s better to ignore him. “Shekher would talk something and when there’s a likelihood of legal action, he would go and hide,” he said.

When asked whether COVID-19 lockdown restrictions would be eased to revive tourism, especially in Kodaikanal, where local people are facing hardships without money for over the last four months, the Chief Minister said not only tourism, but other sectors have also been affected by the restrictions.

But, the government is taking all efforts to bring back normalcy in the tourism and other sectors, he added and appealed for cooperation to further contain the spread of the virus.

Earlier, during the review meeting at Dindigul, he said as many as 43,578 samples have been taken for COVID-19 tests in the district so far. Among 3,202 infected patients, 2,603 have recovered and discharged so far. Currently, 540 cases are under treatment in hospitals.

Explaining the better conditions in the state in comparison to the situation across the world, the Chief Minister said, the State ranks high in COVID-19 testing and in providing early and effective treatment.

He also inaugurated 18 development projects at a cost of Rs 8.88 crore and also laid foundation for 42 infrastructure development projects at an estimated cost of Rs 8.69 crore in the district, sources said.