PMK praises Karunanidhi on hoardings removal, SEZ

Chennai, Aug 30 (UNI) In an apparent climb down, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) today eased its stand off with the ruling DMK as its executive showered praise on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for his decision to remove hoardings and his stand on creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

The executive, chaired by PMK founder leader Dr S Ramadoss, adopted a resolution, praising Mr Karunanidhi for endorsing the PMK's view that the government should not acquire farm lands and hand them over to industrialists in the pretext of creating SEZs.

The party apparently realised that it was not the opportune time to severe ties with the ruling DMK as the resolutions adopted at the meeting were sans of its usual bitter criticism against the DMK government.

Hailing Mr Karunanidhi for deciding to remove all illegal hoardings in the six corporation limits in the state, the resolution said the government should extend the drive throughout the state.

It said the PMK had made a detailed presentation about the hoarding issue, in its draft budget released in July 2006 and wanted the government to implement the suggestions to make revenue, while removing all unwanted hoardings.

On SEZs, the executive congratulated Mr Karunanidhi for having assured on the floor of the Assembly that the government would never acquire wet and farm lands for the purpose.

With regard to the controversy over the establishment of satellite townships to ease the congestion in the city, the executive, reminded the assurances given by Mr Karunanidhi that farm lands, residential areas and temple lands would not be touched for setting up satellite townships.

Urging the Chief Minister to keep up his words, the PMK suggested that the DMK government, instead of proposing to set up the townships in 40,000 to 50,000 acres of land, could go for mini-townships, around the city, without disturbing the existing dwellers.

Many individuals owned lands to the extent of 10 to 100 acres around the city and the government could take over these lands for setting up mini-townships on the lines of townships build in countries like Malaysia.

UNI