Jayalalithaa submits 94-page memorandum to Modi

Forming a Cauvery Management Board, stopping Karanatak from building a new dam across Cauvery river and accepting Tamil Nadu's suggestions on GST figure in the wishlist submitted by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa to Prime Minister Narendra Modi here on Tuesday.

Jayalalithaa met Modi for the first time after she won the May assembly elections and became Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister again. During the meeting she submitted a 94-page, 29-point memorandum to Modi.

The other demands include retrival of Katchatheevu, an islet ceded to Sri Lanka, making Tamil an official language as well as the functional language in the Madras High Court.

The memorandum also sought protection to Tamil Nadu fishermen and the release of arrested fishermen and their boats from Sri Lanka.

On the issue of river waters, the Tamil Nadu government demanded linking of river waters, setting up of a Cauvery Management Board and raising the Mullaperiyar Dam water storage level to 152 feet.

Jayalalalithaa's memorandum also demanded rerouting the gas pipeline of GAIL, expanding metro rail services and integrating it with the Mass Rapid Transport System (MRTS) in Chennai.

The state wants early commissioning of the second 1,000 MW nuclear power unit set up in Kudankulam.

Demanding that petroleum products be exempted from the ambit of Goods and Services Tax (GST), Jayalalithaa wanted compensation for adverse treatment of the state by the 14th Finance Commission.

Citing Taiwanese company Foxconn's interest in taking over Nokia's plant near Chennai, Jayalalityaa urged Modi's personal intervention so that Nokia's assets were de-freezed.

Jayalalithaa said Tamil Nadu should be exempted from the common medical entrance exams and the ban on Jallikattu or bull taming sport must be lifted.

The memorandum demanded adequate supply of kerosene under the public distribution system and release of funds to carry out flood relief works in Chennai and other areas.

--IANS

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