Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday said that he would place the State’s demand for exemption from the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical admissions before Prime Minister Narendra Modi, when he meets the latter in New Delhi on February 27. Bills to exempt undergraduate and postgraduate medical aspirants from the State from the national examination are yet to get Presidential assent.
Asked whether the State Government would oppose the hydrocarbon exploration project in Pudukottai, Mr. Palaniswami said that it was a Central Government project and the State Government would continue to protect the interests of agriculturists.
Mr. Palaniswami stressed that all welfare schemes and infrastructure projects that were announced during the regime of former CM Jayalalithaa will be implemented, adding that there was no need for a probe into the death of the former chief minister.
The Chief Minister on Friday kick-started a green initiative on the occasion of the 69th birth anniversary of former chief minister Jayalalithaa at the Tamil Nadu Multi Super Specialty Hospital here.
69 lakh saplings
He also announced ₹15 crore as interim relief for fishermen affected by the recent oil spill along the Chennai coast. In an official press release, the Chief Minister stated that around 69 lakh saplings would be planted by the end of the year across Tamil Nadu in places such as schools, colleges, roads, public parks, private and government offices. This initiative is expected to cost the government ₹69.85 crore.
The CM also announced ₹5,000 each as interim relief to over 30,000 fisherfolk affected by the recent oil spill.
