Hon’ble Members of the Legislative Assembly,

Vanakkam.  I take great pleasure in addressing you at the commencement of the tenth session of the Thirteenth Legislative Assembly in 2009.  I convey my hearty greetings for the Tamil New Year and Pongal, the festival of Tamils.

2.     In the backdrop of sporadic occurrence of the acts of terror against the spirit of democracy, the vigour of democracy has been established at the national level in the recent elections in the six states of Delhi- the national capital, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Jammu and Kashmir and its strength has subsequently been demonstrated in the by-election in Tirumangalam. It is in this context, this Government takes special pride in presenting this address before you. This Government regards its victories in all the three by-elections held in the last two and a half years of its rule, as people’s endorsement of the performance of this Government and pledges to continue to perform with greater zeal.

3.     The recent incidents in Mumbai, yet another manifestation of the threat posed by terrorism to the entire mankind, has shaken our hearts.  While condemning such horrendous acts against humanity and religious harmony, this Government conveys its deep condolences to the families of the victims.   While several parts of our country have recently witnessed such acts of terror, this Government has been maintaining continuous vigil to prevent such incidents in Tamil Nadu.

4.   While welcoming the law enacted by the Union Government for establishing a new National Investigation Agency to ensure speedy investigation and appropriate punishment for those engaged in terrorist activities, this Government would like to emphasize the need for this agency to operate without interfering with the powers of the State Government or affecting individual liberty.

5.   By mobilising contributions to the tune of Rs.48 crores and obtaining the concurrence of Government of India, Government of Tamil Nadu has sent essential relief materials like food and clothing through International Red Cross Society to Sri Lankan Tamils, who have been suffering from hunger and starvation due to the civil war in our neighbouring country of Sri Lanka.    As resolved in the meeting of leaders of all political parties, this Government urges the Government of India, which has always maintained the view that war is not a solution to the problem of Sri Lankan Tamils undergoing inconsolable misery, to take without further delay, appropriate alternative measures like dialogue so as to establish peace there and thus protect the Sri Lankan Tamils who are suffering day after day having been deprived of safety to their lives and property and the right to live in their own land.  We would like to point out that the sentiments of the Tamil people who have contributed to the Sri Lankan Tamil Relief Fund responding to an appeal from the Hon’ble Chief Minister are also ingrained in this request. 

6.   Due to the continuing conflict in Sri Lanka, 73,300 persons are living as refugees in camps across Tamil Nadu.  Soon after assuming charge, this Government has doubled the monthly assistance provided to them with the financial assistance of the Union Government and has improved the basic facilities in these camps.  All necessary assistance has been given for their children’s education. This Government will further improve the infrastructure in the camps for these people, who have been forced to continue as refugees, being unable to return to their motherland.

7.    Sethusamudram Project, a dream of Thanthai Periyar, Perarignar Anna, Perunthalaivar Kamarajar and other eminent men of this soil, will herald a prosperous future for the State. We urge the Union Government to remove the hurdles in its execution and ensure the completion of this major project, which would boost maritime trade and thus provide a new impetus to the national economy.

8.   Severe damage has been suffered by 12 districts of our State due to heavy rains of North-East Monsoon from 19.11.2008 to 28.11.2008 and cyclone ‘NISHA’, similar to that witnessed in 22 districts during the four spells of heavy rains during the North-East Monsoon in 2005.  In addition to immediately undertaking relief measures in the affected areas, this Government has also provided necessary emergency assistance to the affected people.  A Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Minister for Rural Development and Local Administration, was constituted to supervise these relief measures.  The State Ministers personally inspected the affected areas and speeded up the relief operations.  Convening a meeting of Collectors of the 12 affected districts on 7.12.2008, the Chief Minister reviewed the flood damage and relief operations.

9.    During the floods of 2005, assistance to the tune of Rs.2.49 crores was disbursed as relief at the rate of Rs.50,000 each to the families of the 497 deceased.  During the recent floods of 2008, Rs.4.10 crores has been disbursed as relief at the rate of Rs.2 lakhs each to the families of the 205 deceased.  While a sum of Rs.86 lakhs had been paid as compensation for the loss of cattle numbering 1,520 in 2005, this time a relief of Rs.1.79 crores has been provided for the loss of cattle numbering 5,982.

10.    In the year 2005, Rs.93.07 crores was disbursed as relief for damage to huts.  This year, Rs.231 crores has been disbursed for this.  While Rs.466.97 crores had been given as special relief assistance to houses in 22 districts affected by heavy rains or marooned by floods in 2005, this year, Rs.402 crores has been disbursed in the 12 affected districts alone.  With respect to Chennai city, Rs.150 crores has been disbursed as relief assistance now, as compared to Rs.148 crores given in 2005.

11.  As against Rs.368 crores given as compensation for crop loss in 2005, Rs.388 crores has been provided this year.  Thus, while Rs.931 crores was disbursed as the total relief assistance in 22 districts in 2005, this year, in the 12 affected districts alone Rs.1,027 crores has been disbursed.

12.     On the basis of the assessed damage, a sum of Rs.3,789 crores has been requested from Government of India for relief and restoration. Government of India has released an initial financial assistance of Rs.200 crores.  A central team of officers has visited the affected areas and inspected the extent of damage caused by the floods and the relief operations undertaken.  We have urged the Union Government to provide at the earliest, based on its report, the financial assistance needed by the State Government to disburse adequate relief and fully restore the affected areas. 

13.   With a view to preventing such damage due to heavy rains in future, this Government has formulated certain permanent flood protection schemes and is implementing them.  Works to the tune of Rs.211 crores are underway in Karur, Trichy, Ariyalur and Perambalur districts in order to prevent heavy floods in Cauvery and Kollidam Rivers. With a view to preventing flooding of Chennai City, a major project at an estimated cost of Rs.1,560 crores has been prepared and approval obtained for works to the tune of Rs.690 crores under Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission.  These works will be taken up this year.

14.    Even though the crop insurance scheme for compensating the losses suffered by the farmers due to natural calamities is in existence for many years, it is this Government which has been providing 50 percent of the insurance premium as subsidy to the farmers since 2006.  
As a beneficial outcome, the situation has changed from one of only one lakh farmers availing crop insurance in 2005-2006 to over 3 lakh farmers in 2006-2007, about 5.5 lakh farmers in 2007-2008 and about 8.5 lakh farmers in 2008-2009, utilizing this subsidy.  For the first time ever, about 3 lakh farmers have received compensation of Rs.279 crores for crop loss suffered by them due to heavy rains in 2007-2008.  This scheme will continue to be implemented in the ensuing financial years as well.

15.   Our Chief Minister had urged the Union Government, during the National Development Council Meeting held on 19.12.2007, to provide financial assistance at least for interlinking intra-state rivers in the first phase, pending implementation of National Programme for Interlinking of Rivers as a solution to the inter-state river water disputes.  On the basis of the resolution of the National Development Council for providing financial assistance to such schemes under Accelerated Irrigation Benefits Programme, sanction has been accorded for constructing a barrage across Cauvery at Kattalai at a cost of Rs.165 crores, as the first phase of the Cauvery-Gundar interlinking project for taking surplus flood water in Cauvery to water deficit districts, and this work is about to commence.  Hon’ble Chief Minister will lay the foundation stone on 09.02.2009 for another scheme, namely the Tamirabarani-Karumeniyar-Nambiar interlinking project at an estimated cost of Rs.369 crores for diverting the surplus water of Tamirabarani to the dry areas of Thoothukudi and Tirunelveli districts. Therefore, we urge the Union Government to provide the necessary financial assistance for these projects immediately.

16.    We are to present the memorandum of our state before the Thirteenth Finance Commission soon.  Rectifying the present situation in which the devolution to  the performing States like Tamil Nadu is less than their requirement, we urge that States should receive a fair share of devolution with due weightage for their performance and developmental needs.

17.   Even in the past, when our state had steadfastly implemented the policy of prohibition – like it is said that there is vice even in virtue- illicit arrack became rampant and hundreds of people lost their lives after consuming poisonous arrack.  As a result, prohibition was reviewed and relaxed in 1971 and all subsequent Governments have also continued with the same policy.  It is in this context that several eminent persons including Dr. S. Ramadoss, the leader of P.M.K., heads and representatives of various organizations, and spiritual leaders met the Chief Minister Kalaignar on 22nd of the last month and urged to enforce prohibition in the State.  Reminding that this DMK Government, which is in consonance with their views, has closed down 1,300 bars and 128 retail outlets in the last two years, it has been decided that attempts will be made to introduce total prohibition in a phased manner and till then it will be ensured that liquor outlets are not located against rules, near public places like temples, churches, mosques and educational institutions.  The working hours of liquor shops which were 10 am to 11 pm hitherto, have been reduced by one hour, and accordingly Government has ordered that these shops will function from 10 am to 10 pm, with effect from January 1, 2009.  These measures bear testimony to the commitment of this Government to introduce total prohibition.

18.     In the birth centenary year of Perarignar Anna, this Government has created history by fulfilling his dream of providing rice under public distribution system at one rupee per kilogram, the lowest in our country.  In addition to this, the Government is procuring and providing essential food items like toor dal, urad dal, palm oil and wheat flour at subsidized price under the special public distribution system.  With effect from 2.10.2008, ten grocery items at a reduced overall price of Rs.50 are also being provided under the scheme to all ration card holders through the fair price shops.  These measures taken by this Government for reducing the burden of price rise and providing succour to the people have become a model for the rest of the country.

19.  Even though the Union Government has fixed the Minimum Support Price for the common and fine varieties of paddy at Rs.850 and Rs.880 per quintal respectively, accepting the request of farmers this Government has provided additional incentive over and above the price fixed by the Union Government and has thus enhanced the procurement price of the common and fine varieties of paddy to Rs.1,000 and Rs.1,050 per quintal, respectively.  In the current year, 16.5 lakh tonnes of paddy will be procured.

20.  Though the Union Government has not increased the Minimum Support Price of Rs.811.80 for sugar cane in the last two years, this Government has increased the State Advised Price to Rs.1,050 per tonne to help the sugar cane farmers.  On the basis of the request to further increase this price, this Government has decided to raise it to Rs.1,100 per tonne.  In addition, by bearing Rs.90 towards transport charges and providing on an average Rs.30 as recovery based incentive, it has been made possible that the sugar cane farmers will get Rs.1,220 per tonne. 

21.   Thanks to the easy accessibility and transparent functioning of this Government, new industries are continuing to come to Tamil Nadu.  After this Government assumed charge, 29 new industries with an investment of Rs.37,595 crores have been attracted through a package of incentives thus ensuring employment opportunities for 2,05,350 persons.  Even in the current situation, where many developed economies are in recession and developing economies too are experiencing deceleration in their growth, multinational companies like Caterpillar have come forward to establish their new industrial units in Tamil Nadu.  This is a clear testimony to the fact that Tamil Nadu is a globally favoured investment destination.

22.   With a view to ensuring that the benefits of this industrial development reach the people in all parts of the State, this Government has announced additional incentives to encourage investors who come forward to establish industries in industrially backward areas and the southern districts of the State.  I am pleased to inform that, as a result of such farsighted policies and efforts to disperse industrial development, ATC Tyres is establishing a new tyre manufacturing unit at Gangaikondan in Tirunelveli district, MRF is establishing another tyre manufacturing unit in Perambalur district, Suzlon is establishing a unit for manufacturing wind energy generator parts at Palladam in Coimbatore district and Growth-Link is establishing a modern footwear unit at Cheyyar in Tiruvannamalai district.

23.   A survey by Dataquest Magazine has rated  Tamil Nadu as the best state in e-governance in our country.  Apart from this, our state has witnessed tremendous growth in  software development during the last three years.  While Tamil Nadu has thus emerged as one of the leading states in Information Technology in the country, we are also taking proactive efforts to develop Information Technology industry in the tier-II cities of the State such as Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Salem and Tirunelveli. The lands required for the IT Parks to be  established in these cities have been allotted.  Through these measures, we have ensured that people living in all parts of the State are able to benefit from the growth of Information Technology.

24.   In the first three phases of the scheme for providing free colour televisions, which was one of the election promises, 62,80,000 colour television sets have been procured in a transparent manner and 54,28,204 colour television sets have been distributed to the beneficiaries so far.  In the fourth phase of this scheme, 41,62,500 colour television sets have been ordered and the distribution will continue this year.

25.    The demand for power in  the State has witnessed a rapid increase in the last two years due to the huge industrial growth.  This Government has taken all measures to improve the power supply through efficient management of power generating stations of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) as well as by purchasing power from other states and private power producers.  As a result of these efforts, there has been a substantial improvement in the power situation since last month.

26.   This Government is implementing various projects to augment the power generation capacity in the State.  The works for establishing additional power stations with a capacity of 1200 MW in North Chennai and 600 MW at Mettur have commenced in 2008.  In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) for establishing two units of 800 MW each at Udangudi in Thoothukudi district.  Apart from these, in the current year, the State will be getting 925 MW, being its share from the Koodankulam Atomic Power Plant which is about to be completed and 325 MW from the expansion project of Neyveli Lignite Corporation.  The power requirement of the State in the coming years will be fully met with the commissioning of these projects.

27.   With a view to effectively implementing the scheme for distribution of the house site pattas to the houseless, this Government has issued orders to reduce the minimum number of years one must have resided on government lands to be eligible for a house site patta from ten years to five years and to remove the income ceiling.  On account of such measures, 6,50,517 house site pattas have been distributed to the poor under this scheme  in the last two and half years.  Under the scheme for reclaiming waste lands and distributing them free to the poor landless agricultural families, 2,10,104 acres of land have been distributed to 1,74,924 persons free of cost so far.  Reviving the Farmers and Agricultural Labourers Welfare Board, about 1.70 crore farmers and agricultural labourers have been registered as its members and assistance to the tune of Rs.209 crores has been distributed to them so far in the form of educational assistance, marriage assistance, maternity assistance etc.

28.  Hogenakkal Combined Water Supply Scheme is the only permanent solution for the drinking water problems of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts which have a high fluoride content in  ground water.  Thanks to the determined efforts of this Government, financial assistance of Japan International Co-operation Agency has been obtained and Hon’ble Chief Minister has laid the foundation stone for this project on 26.02.2008.  All necessary steps are being taken for the expeditious execution of this project at an estimated cost of Rs.1,330 crores.  Works for the Ramanathapuram Combined Water Supply Scheme, envisaged for addressing the drinking water needs of dry areas of Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Pudukkottai districts at an estimated cost of Rs.616 crores, are progressing at a fast pace.  These works will be completed by April this year.

29.   With a view to solving the drinking water problem of Chennai city, the Union Government had announced in 2004-2005, financial assistance to the State Government to establish a desalination project.  After this Government assumed charge in 2006, investigation in this regard was undertaken immediately and a detailed project report was presented to the Union Government.  Based on this report, the Union Government has recently accorded approval for establishing a 100 million litres per day desalination plant at Nemmeli, near Chennai, at a cost of Rs.908 crores.  We thank the Union Government for this.  Works for this project will be undertaken expeditiously.  In addition, the works for another desalination plant at Minjur are underway.  They will be completed by April this year and the plant will be put into use.

30.   This Government has successfully achieved the goal of ensuring five years of primary education for every child in the State.   The Activity Based Learning method followed in our state has become a model for the entire country.  As the next step, this Government will improve the infrastructure of the high schools in the State under the new ‘National Scheme for Secondary Education’ announced by the Union Government with the objective of ensuring ten years of secondary education for every child.