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Tamil Nadu
By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau
In an over two-and-half-hour reply to the debate on the State budget, which gave no hint of fresh announcements, the Minister said the Government had to undertake reforms even to get aid from the Centre. "If we do not get aid from the World Bank or other lending agencies, how do we implement development projects? And, you are opposed to levying fresh taxes as well," Mr. Ponnaiyan told the Opposition, which earlier accused the Government of bowing to the World Bank dictates. Reeling off details of World Bank projects in the pipeline, the Minister said a Rs. 2,118-crore road sector project would be launched in June. The first phase of the water resources consolidation project was extended by another year and the second phase of the project, at a cost of Rs. 2,900 crores, would be launched later next year. Besides, clearance for the Rs. 650-crore Tamil Nadu Medical infrastructure project was due anytime. To the Opposition plea on free power supply, he categorically said the Government could not provide subsidies to big farmers. "We will bear the power tariff for the small and marginal farmers, not for the big farmers". He also maintained that it was the previous DMK regime, which had set up the State Electricity Regulatory Commission for initiating power reforms and written to the Centre that it would meter all power connections after the polls. At this, the Congress floor leader, S.R. Balasubramaniam asked how then the ruling AIADMK assured the Assembly even last year that it would continue with free power supply to all farmers. Intervening heatedly, the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, said free supply had not been withdrawn at all. Only the big farmers would have to pay, while free power would be supplied to the small and marginal farmers. Ms. Jayalalithaa also claimed that when the power reforms bill was first drafted in 1998, when she was part of the BJP-led regime at the Centre, she opposed the provision which stipulated that no user be given electricity free of cost. "It was at my instance that a proviso was included that the State Government can compensate for the tariff collected from any section of the users." However, not impressed with the Government's contention, the Congress, the DMK, the PMK and the Left Parties walked out. After the Opposition benches became empty, Mr. Ponnaiyan unleashed charges of irregularities against the previous DMK regime, alleging that the former Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, who held the Commercial Taxes portfolio, had allowed the Department Commissioner to provide tax concessions to various companies the tune of Rs.145.66 crores. Earlier, citing reports of the Comptroller and Audit-General for 1998-98, the Minister said the operation of mini-buses had led to a revenue loss of Rs. 11.03 crores, and without replacing old buses the transport corporations had lost Rs. 101.52 crores. Besides, the transport undertakings had bought 28,843 more tyres, resulting in the loss of Rs. 19.62 crores. Amid din, the former Transport Minister and DMK member, K. Ponmudi, said a central purchase committee had bought the tyres and any probe could be initiated in case of any irregularity.
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