Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswmai, who has successfully completed three years in office, today released a compilation of books prepared by the Department of Information and Public Relations on his achievements and speeches in these 36 months.
Released under the title ‘Muththirai Padhitha Moondrandu, Mudhalidamey Adharkku Saandru’, the souvenirs have the collection of speeches made by Palaniswami in the Assembly, various announcements made by him under the Rule 110 and a shortfilm about the achievements of the government in the past three years. Palaniswami also released a coffee table book.
Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, Chief Secretary K Shanmugam. Ministers and senior officials took part in the event. In the past 36 months, Palaniswami has cleared 16,382 files.
Some of the key achievements of the government include declaring Cauvery delta as protected special agricultural zone, implementation of the Kudimaramathu scheme for rejuvenating water resources, ban on single-use plastics, successful conduct of second edition of the Global Investors Meet, getting Central government’s approval for 11 new medical colleges, laying the foundation for South Asia’s biggest livestock park in Salem, Tamilnadu ranked number one in the good governance index, the initiation of the Chief Minister’s Special Public Grievance Redressal Scheme etc.
Increasing investments
During the Global Investors Meet held in January 2019, projects with investments worth Rs 3,00,501 crore were signed. It is learnt that 53 projects have already commenced commercial production and 219 projects are at various stages of implementation.
Palaniswami also embarked on visit to foreign countries to bring in investments to the State. Altogether 63 new MoUs have been signed during 2019-2020. Apart from this a web portal named ‘Yaadhum Oore’ was launched in USA.
To give approval for investments, the ‘Thozhil Thozhan’ website was launched and the Tamilnadu Industrial Guidance and Export Promotion Bureau was renamed as Guidance with a new logo. The Tamilnadu Aerospace and Defence Industrial Policy was released during the GIM 2019.
Augmenting agriculture
The long-pending Athikadavu-Avinasi scheme is finally becoming a reality with works on at a cost of Rs 1,652 crore. Under the Kudimaramathu scheme, 4,965 works have been completed at a total cost of Rs 930.25 crore.
Apart from this initiative is taken to establish Mega Food Parks in nine districts for bringing value addition to prevent food wastage and to get good remunerative price for the farmers’ produce.
Palaniswami visited Kerala and met Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to set-up inter-State committees to resolve water disputes between the two States.
Enhancing transport
In the past three years 4,921 buses have been pressed into service. Apart from this agreements have been signed with the German Development Bank for buying 12,000 new buses and 2,000 electric buses.
Works for the commencement of the second Phase of Chennai Metro Rail have already begun. The government has also announced the introduction of the light rail services. Several new flyovers have been already inaugurated and a few are under construction.
Education enlightenment
A fair share of the government’s 2020 budget has been allocated for the School Education Department. The government has established nine new Government Arts and Science Colleges, three University Constituent Arts and Science Colleges and three new Government Polytechnic Colleges during the past three years. An educational channel catering to the needs of the students has been launched.