TN requests Centre not to stall Sethusamudram project

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government today requested the Centre not to "go back" on implementation of the Sethusamudram Project by paying heed to the "untenable" arguments raised by some people for "political gains".

In his customary address to the state assembly, Governor S S Barnala said the project, a long-pending dream of the people of Tamil Nadu, had been studied since 1860 during the British rule and found feasible by engineering stalwarts. It was also "considered desirable" by scholars and eminent personalities, he said.

The dredging work at ‘Ram Sethu’ area in the Palk straits had been stayed by the Supreme Court on a batch of writ petitions seeking a direction to stop demolition of the mythological bridge believed to have been constructed by Lord Ram to cross over to Lanka. The opposition AIADMK boycotted the address demanding dismissal of the Karunanidhi ministry claiming that the law and order in the state has deteriorated.

The state government would take up preliminary works for inter-linking rivers running within the state this year, Barnala said adding it would set up a committee of experts to explore the possibility of preventing surplus water draining to the sea during monsoons.

A separate welfare board for trans-genders would be set up, he said. A Central University at Tiruvarur district, the native district of Karunanidhi and universalising of secondary education were among some announcements made by him in the address.

Source: economictimes.indiatimes.com

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