The Tamil Nadu Assembly witnessed heated exchanges between Highways Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami and DMK member E.V. Velu over road projects in the State.
Raising questions during the debate on grants for the Highways Department, Mr. Velu said studies showed one-fourth of the vehicle population was concentrated in Chennai. While the past DMK regimes had built several flyovers to ease traffic, he sought to know why the AIADMK government had not completed even one such project in the last four years.
Replying, the Minister said Detailed Project Report for the Taramani-Siruseri-Mahabalipuram expressway was being prepared. The project would be completed in two phases, he pointed out.
He said in many projects initiated by the DMK, no proper planning was undertaken. Works began hastily without even acquiring land, which led to owners approaching the court and getting stay orders. The Porur flyover project, for example, was stalled as there was a stay order for three years. Due to the effort of the government, the litigation was now over and the project would be completed.
Intervening during the debate, Leader of the House O. Pannerselvam recalled a project in Pallavaram which was left unfinished due to faulty land acquisition by the DMK regime. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa took it up when she returned to power in 2001 and solved all issues, he said.
DMK walkout
Earlier, the DMK members staged a walkout protesting Speaker P. Dhanapal’s decision to expunge the remarks of CPI(M) member K. Balabharathi against the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB). “Yesterday you allowed similar remarks made by the minister against the functioning of the TNPCB during DMK regime. Today you have takes a different stand,” said DMK floor leader M.K. Stalin. When Speaker P. Dhanpal refused to expunge the remarks, Mr Stalin led his party in a walkout.
