Several investment projects sponsored by the Centre and those involving Foreign Direct Investment remain stalled in Tamil Nadu for want of State Government’s clearance, according to E.M. Sudarsana Natchiappan, Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry.
Addressing journalists on the sidelines of the inauguration of Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Marketing Yard in Madurai on Monday, he said Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa should constitute a cell headed by the Chief Secretary to clear all stalled projects.
Asked about Cooperation Minister ‘Sellur’ K. Raju sharing the dais with him, he said: “It is very important that the Central as well as State Governments work together for the development of the State. We can have politics elsewhere.”
He thanked Ms.Jayalalithaa for allowing her Ministers to attend programmes presided over by Union Ministers belonging to the Congress.
During his address, Mr.Raju said he agreed to attend the function only after receiving the green signal from the Chief Minister. Theni Member of Parliament J.M. Haroon Rashid of the Congress honoured Mr.Raju by garlanding him.
On establishing an international trade-cum-convention centre here, Mr.Natchiappan said he would be happy to establish one such centre even at Katchatheevu. “Fishermen from India and Sri Lanka visit the island once a year and exchange goods. We can make it a permanent affair,” he said.
Stating that informal talks between the officials of the two countries on the island began on Monday, he said the talks initiated by the Centre between the fishermen of both countries could not progress due to the lack of cooperation from the State.
The confrontation between the fishermen of both countries could be solved to a great extent if the State declared the fishing facility created at Mookaiyur in Ramanathapuram district as a fishing harbour.
Ferry service between Rameswaram and Thalaimannar had been planned, and construction of a jetty and establishment of customs facility delayed it,” he added.
The marketing yard, inaugurated by the Minister, has been constructed on a 30-acre site at Sikkandar Chavadi here through public-private partnership. Of the total cost of Rs.40 crore, Rs.30 crore was given by the Centre and the rest contributed by traders.
Chairman and Managing Director of the yard S. Rethinavelu, chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sri Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple Karumuttu T. Kannan and former Director of National Small Industries Corporation T. Narayanasamy also spoke on the occasion.
