Chennai: In the last two years as Tamilnadu Chief Minister, Edappadi K Palaniswami has taken many pages out of his mentor and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s book. One among them is the effective usage of rule 110 in the State Assembly.
Here are some of the important announcements made by Palaniswami under rule 110:
Rs 2,000 FOR BPL
Palaniswami on 11 February announced that families below the poverty line will be given special fund of Rs 2,000. Around Rs 1,200 crore was allocated for this purpose to benefit 35 lakh poor families in villages and about 25 lakh families in cities. Palaniswami said the proposal was part of the AIADMK government’s efforts to ensure inclusive growth.
PACHAI TAMIZHAN TURNS GREEN HERO
In June 2018, the Chief Minister banned the sale and usage of one time use plastic. Though not many gave it a serious consideration when it was announced, the implementation of the rule has been lauded by many. Today Tamilnadu is slowly but surely on its way to becoming a plastic-free State and a role model for the rest of India. History would speak of the success of Palaniswami’s plastic ban in equal terms with his mentor J Jayalaithaa’s rainwater harvesting scheme.
MORE POWER
“Electricity is a key component for the development of the country. Keeping the future need of power in mind, the government had come up with new projects to ensure Tamilnadu is a power surplus State,” said Palaniswami under rule 110 in June 2018. He sanctioned 25 sub-stations at an estimated cost of more than Rs 5,000 crore that day with 10 per cent of the funds allocated to tap green energy. Today, we are reaping the benefits as power cuts are a non-entity in Tamilnadu.
WATER WARRIOR
Being a farmer himself, Palaniswami under rule 110 last year announced a project at a cost of Rs 150 crore to protect the Noyyal river from effluents of dyeing units and households in Tirupur Corporation.
In Chennai, after the destruction caused by floods and Vardah cyclone, Palaniswami sanctioned a Rs 100 crore proposal to take up flood mitigation projects in neighbouring Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts. Funds for the project, which will cover Adyar, Cooum, Kosasthalaiyar, Kovalam and Arani river basins, will prevent the rivers from flooding the State in the event of heavy rains.
KEEPING PROMISES
Not only has Palaniswami announced new schemes under rule 110, he has also kept the promises made by Jayalalithaa and implemented the announcements made by her. In March 2017, three months after her demise and just a month after Palaniswami was sworn in as Chief Minister, he launched more than 7,000 infrastructure projects that Jayalalithaa announced on the floor of the assembly under rule 110 when she was Chief Minister.
He launched the schemes and laid foundation for projects to the tune of Rs 1,486 crore for seven northern districts and inaugurated projects in various sectors including power, roadways, school education at a cost of Rs 1375.95 crore.