Jayalalithaa seeks huge central investment, assistance for Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa Tuesday presented Prime Minister Narendra Modi a memorandum listing projects and schemes involving central investment and assistance running into several thousands of crores of rupees.

Jayalalithaa submitted the memorandum when she met Modi at his office in New Delhi.

According to the memorandum, copies of which were distributed to the media here, Jayalalithaa sought a comprehensive special package for the fisheries sector involving a sum of Rs.1,520 crore and a recurring grant of Rs.10 crore per annum.

She also sought central assistance to the tune of Rs.2,250 crore for setting up solar power transmission infrastructure.

Jayalalithaa also urged the central government to release the Rs.1,576.87 crore shortfall in central grants and Rs.7,039.96 crore towards central sales tax compensation.

The memorandum also urged the central government to fund 50 percent cost of the three desalination water projects planned in the state involving an outlay of Rs.8,442.53 crore.

On the transport infrastructure projects, Jayalalithaa wanted central investment in the railway projects mentioned in the state government's Vision 2023 documents at an outlay of Rs.188,400 crore.

Tamil Nadu also wants central funding for expressway projects involving an investment of Rs.21,320 crore and also for the peripheral ring road project to the tune of around Rs.4,800 crore - 40 percent of the total project cost.

She also sought substantial central funding of the Rs.10,000 crore scheme for modernisation of the police force including housing facilities.

The CM also requested a separate line of assistance for an underground sewage system involving a total project cost of Rs.20,820 crore and considerable central funding for urban housing schemes at an outlay Rs.29,200 crore.

The memorandum also sought sanction for various river linking projects and also for modernisation of the canal system in the Cauvery Basin at a total outlay of Rs.18,949 crore.