Elect local bodies compatible with Govt: Maran

Tiruchirapalli, Oct 4: Senior DMK leader and Union Minister for Information and Communications Dayanidhi Maran said a local body well matched with the Tamil Nadu state government was vital for the successful implementation of various welfare schemes.

Addressing a public meeting here as part of his election campaign for the civic polls, Mr Maran said, ''You (people) have witnessed the benefit of electing a state government, which is compatible with the Centre, which had successfully implemented Sethu Samudram Project, One India scheme and several other projects.

The need of the hour is to elect local bodies that will coordinate with the State and Centre''.

He called upon the people to repeat the verdict of the Parliament and Assembly elections.

He said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi was making efforts to bring IT majors to the state. A special Economic Zone (SEZ) would be developed between Tiruchirapalli and Perambalur Districts at an investment of Rs 5000 Crore providing job to over 10,000 people. Similarly the proposed Tidal Park would come up in Tiruchirapalli within a period of 18 months. Due to the serious efforts of the State Government, tier-two cities like Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Madurai and Tirunelveli would also emerge as destinations for IT companies, he added.

Launching a scathing attack on the AIADMK, the Minister said the AIADMK and its allies were shaken by the speedy implementation of various welfare measures, such as writing off of cooperative loans taken by farmers, distribution of free land to landless, free colour television rice for Rs two per kg by the ruling front.

In the absence of anything worth complaining, the AIADMK was now attempting to blow up the Chikungunya issue. The state government had taken all efforts to keep the disease under control, he said.

Union Minister for Environment and Forests A Raja, State Ministers K N Nehru and N Selvaraj also attended the meeting.

UNI