The State has always been in the forefront in promoting social infrastructure, said Governor Surjit Singh Barnala.
In his Republic Day address on the state radio, Mr. Barnala said it was heartening to note that Tamil Nadu was the only State in the country to supply quality rice at Re 1. a kg to people below poverty line under the public distribution system. The distribution of free land to poor, landless farmers or free gas stoves or colour television showed that the State was in the forefront of building a sound social infrastructure.
The agriculture sector in the State which recorded an all-time high of producing 95.6 lakh tonnes of foodgrains in 2009-10 would grow further with the support of interest-free crop loan by the government, he said.
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In a Republic Day function, Southern Railway General Manager Deepak Krishan said the railways had targeted to complete many projects by the end of this financial year. The projects include gauge conversion of the sections of Tirunelveli-Tenkasi, Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur and Dindigul-Palani, laying of new line between Salem-Namakkal and Nagore-Karaikal, and doubling of Netravathy-Kankanadi, Mavelikara-Chengannur, Kayankulam-Haripad and Ennore-Athipattu sections.
Hoisting the national flag at the railways' New General Office here, Mr.Krishan said during the current financial year several projects for passenger service, such as the construction of a new line between Nagapattinam-Velankanni, doubling of track between Irugur-Coimbatore and gauge conversion of Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai and Quilon-Punalur had been commissioned.
Final clearance by the Commissioner of Railway Safety was being awaited for the gauge converted Villupuram-Vellore Cantonment section. The section would be declared open for passenger service shortly, he said.
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Chief Justice M.Y.Eqbal hoisted the national flag at the Madras High Court.
ICF record
Unfurling the tricolour at the ICF stadium, ICF General Manager Pompa Babbar said the factory had completed production of 42,654 coaches since its inception. It turned out 1,433 coaches during the last production year, the highest-ever production by ICF. Current year's target had been fixed at 1,500 coaches. The expansion project for a second unit at ICF had been sanctioned by the Railway Board. With this, the unit's production capacity and capability to produce technologically superior coaches would get enhanced.
The Chennai Petroleum Corporation Limited (CPCL) proposes to install a high conversion Resid Upgradation Unit at an estimated cost of Rs.3,100 crore, said its Managing Director, K.Balachandran, while hoisting the national flag at the Manali Refinery Complex. It is expected to be completed by 2013 end.
The Rs.2,616-crore Auto Fuel Quality Upgradation project was in an advanced stage of completion.
Unfurling the tricolour at the ONGC, GGM-Basin Manager (Cauvery), J.S.Sekhon, said the company made significant progress in unconventional energy business. The pilot production of Coal Bed Methane had started. Cauvery Basin added the highest amount of reserves in 2010-11.
At the Indian Oil Corporation, the General Manager (i/c), RS, Southern Region, P.Rajendran, hoisted the national flag.
The Chief Commissioner of Income Tax, Chennai-I, Chennai and CCA, Prema Malini Vasan, unfurled the tricolour at the Aayakar Bhavan here. The Executive Director, FCI, South Zone, P.P.Singh, hoisted the national flag on the zonal office premises.
At the State Express Transport Corporation here, the Principal Secretary, Transport Department, Rameshram Mishra, hoisted the national flag.
Justice M.Thanikachalam, President, unfurled the tricolour at the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission. State Election Commissioner Syed Munir Hoda hoisted the national flag at the State Election Commission office here.