Thaindian News

Chennai, June 3 (IANS) The Tamil Nadu government’s new schemes and proposals, outlined by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala in his address Friday to the newly constituted assembly’s first session, were generally welcomed by other parties in the state.

PMK founder S. Ramadoss welcomed the AIADMK government’s move to nationalise the cable television business, integrate the rivers flowing in the state, distribute free laptops for students and mixies, grinders and fans for women.

However, he frowned upon the government’s move to stop further construction works at the Rs.1,200 crore new assembly and secretariat building.

The building will become useless, Ramadoss said in a statement issued here.

The new assembly and secretariat building was a pet project of former chief minister M. Karunanidhi.

Ramadoss also said it was not acceptable to bring in mono rail system, which had failed in other parts of the country, instead of expanding the metro rail system.

Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition and DMDK founder A. Vijayakanth, in a statement issued here, said the governor’s address pictures the current status of Tamil Nadu with regard to the law and order situation, declining economic growth and increasing prices.

He also welcomed the setting up of a committee headed by a retired judge to probe the irregularities and wasteful expenditure in the construction of new assembly and secretariat.

Reacting to the setting up of a probe panel, former deputy chief minister M.K. Stalin told reporters here that the party is ready to face any probe.

According to R. Sarathkumar of AISMK, the proposals outlined by the government are growth-oriented.