Charge of favouritism a blatant lie: Anbazhagan

Chennai, June 17 (UNI) The opposition AIADMK today denied Tamil Nadu Local Administration Minister M K Stalin's charge that the previous Jayalalithaa government had shown favouritism to private firm IVRCL for implementing a desalination project.

In a rejoinder to Mr Stalin, former Local Administration Minister K P Anbazhagan said no special concession was given to IVRCL and whatever conditions agreed to by the government while signing of the agreement, had been notified while inviting the tender itself.

The conditions would have applied to any other company selected in the tender process, he said and termed as ''blantant lie'' Mr Stalin's charge that the previous government had agreed to conditions against the interest of the state and had shown undue favouritism to IVRCL.

Reiterating the charge the DMK Union Ministers, especially Union Environment and Forest Minister A Raja had stalled the implementation of the project, Mr Anbazhagan said the DMK ministers who had prevented the desalination project, which benefited 75 lakhs Chennaittes, should tell the people the concessions offered to Motorola, which would benefit only 7500 people.

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