TN CM dedicates India's longest intra-state pipeline

Chennai, Jun 26 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today dedicated to the nation Indian Oil Corporation's Chennai-Tiruchi -Madurai petroleum product pipeline, the longest in any state, and called for its extension till the southern tip of Kanniyakumari.

Speaking at the function, he agreed with Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's view that the project would not be complete without extending it to Chennai-Pondicherry on the East Coast and to the Madurai-Kanniyakumari sectors.

'Actually I should have raised it, but Mr Chidambaram has taken up the responsibility', he said, amid peals of laughter, and asked the latter to also take up the task of allotting funds for expansion.

This (Mr Chidambaram raising the State's need) showed the cordial relations between the Centre and the State. 'Both participating in a function, will help the State highlight its needs to the Centre.' Recalling former Chief Minister C N Annadurai's article in 1967 that he was for State autonomy without adopting a confrontationist stand with the Centre, Mr Karunanidhi said the State joining hands with the Centre would help meet the people's needs.

Mr Karunanidhi also urged Union Petroleum Miniser Murli Deora to take expeditious steps to implement the LNG terminal at Ennore Port, to which the Minister responded positively.

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