DMK left coffers empty: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, NOV. 6. The Chief Minister, Mr. O. Paneerselvam, has issued a five-page rebuttal to the DMK president, Mr. M. Karunanidhi's charges that the AIADMK Government failed to implement a single scheme in its six-month rule.

Apart from answering all points raised by the former Chief Minister, Mr. Paneerselvam has listed the ``achievements'' of the AIADMK regime and vowed to make Tamil Nadu the premier State in the country and model for the subcontinent, ``under the guidance of Puratchi Thalaivi'' (Ms.Jayalalithaa).

In essence, the Chief Minister has argued that many of the schemes and programmes announced by the Government could not be implemented because the ``DMK regime wiped the coffers clean''. Mr. Karunanidhi, he said, should also know how much a Government could do in six months, as he prided himself on having been a Chief Minister for long.

Listing the accomplishments, Mr. Paneerselvam said among the major achievements were the decision to write off Rs. 310.51 crores by way of interest and penal interest due from farmers; tackling the acute water crisis in Chennai on a war-footing by bringing supply by rail and road and preventing a power crisis from enveloping the State.

The Government had also implemented a variety of schemes to benefit various sections - for instance, 300 tonnes of tea from small growers in the Nilgiris was being procured every month; reservation for rural students in technical education had been increased from 15 to 25 per cent; removal of restrictions on inter-State movement of rice to enable farmers to get a better price for TKM-9 and distribution of free cycles for girl students belonging to the SC and ST. These have been mentioned as special initiatives of this regime.

On training of five lakh women entrepreneurs, a scheme announced by the Government, the Chief Minister said the actual training would begin all over the State on December 19. The selection of trainees was in progress.

On bifurcation of Dharmapuri district, he said the Government was awaiting the report of the Revenue department and would initiate steps soon after by appointing a Special Officer. Mr. Paneerselvam noted that the Government had arranged for a funding of Rs. 500 crores from the National Housing Bank, the Punjab National Bank and the Canara Bank for the New Veeranam scheme to bring drinking water to Chennai.

As for increasing the State advisory price for sugarcane to Rs. 1000 per tonne (with 8.5 per cent recovery), he said it was only the DMK which made this promise but never implemented it. ``It was not mentioned either in the Governor's address or the budget'', he added.

Reacting to the DMK chief's criticism on the Veerappan affair, the Chief Minister retorted: ``This Government does not have the need to make the forest brigand a party affair for private television channels to make money. As far as this Government is concerned the efforts to nab Veerappan are straightforward, transparent and will proceed without any slackening of pace''.

Despite the DMK's campaign and allegations, Mr. Paneerselvam argued, the people had reposed their faith and confidence in the AIADMK and its leader, Ms. Jayalalithaa, giving the party a clear mandate in the recently-concluded local bodies elections.

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