MoS Radhakrishnan praises Jayalalithaa's handling of Cauvery crisis

She is is handling it very carefully and patiently,said Radhakrishnan

Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Pon Radhakrishnan on Friday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to discuss road projects in the state and lauded her for "patiently" handling the ongoing Cauvery crisis.

Speaking to reporters after meeting her at the Secretariat here, he said discussions centred around central road projects in Tamil Nadu.

He had words of praise for Jayalalithaa on the Cauvery issue.

"The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has done exceedingly well in the Cauvery issue...Has handled (it) very patiently," he said.

The Minister was responding to reporters' queries on whether he had discussed with Jayalalithaa, today's bandh called for by farmers' and traders' bodies to protest the violence against Tamils in Karnataka and seek a lasting solution to the pressing inter-state dispute.

Asked about allegations that his party BJP was behind the violence in Karnataka, Radhakrishnan dismissed the charges as "baseless."

He, however, said he would discuss the violence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he meets him.

Radhakrishnan said he had sought Tamil Nadu government's cooperation in expediting central road projects in the state, including converting the East Coast Road into a National Highway and expand it to four lanes.

Jayalalithaa assured him of the state's support, he added.

Later, the Tamil Nadu government said Jayalalithaa and Radhakrishnan discussed a number of issues, including the proposal to set up a port at Colachel in Kanyakumari district.

Radhakrishnan sought the state government's support for the commencement of a survey for preparation of a Detailed Project Report for the development of the major port at Enayam (Colachel), an official release said.

"The Union Minister of State indicated that the construction of the port is at a place nearly one km away from Enayam, and Enayam itself will not be affected by this construction. The port will be built by reclaiming land from the sea and no existing habitation will be affected," it said.

Jayalalithaa "indicated" she had always been keen on implementing the Colachel Port Project, but "lack of support from successive Central Governments had meant that the project could not be implemented," the release said.

Jayalalithaa assured the minister that the Tamil Nadu Government was as keen on implementing the project as the Central Government and would provide all necessary support.

Radhakrishnan sought the state government's support for establishing a Rubber Research Center in Kanyakumari District, by providing land, the release said.

The Union Minister also sought Jayalalithaa's continued support for all works relating to National Highways in Tamil Nadu, it said, adding that the Chief Minister assured him of all necessary assistance.