The first session of the Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly in 2016 commenced in Chennai on Wednesday with the entire Opposition boycotting the customary inaugural address by Governor K Roseaiah. The contention of the Opposition was that the AIADMK Government led by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had failed on all fronts.
They also blamed the Government for the delay in opening the Chembarambakkam reservoir which caused the flood in Chennai.
But Governor Roseaiah in his speech gave full credit to Jayalalithaa for the all round development and progress made by the State during the last five years. He said numerous inclusive socio-economic development programmes have been implemented following the principle of a welfare State as the bedrock of public policy. He also said that this was the concluding session of the 14th Assembly as the Election Commission of India may announce the dates for the election any time from now.
“I am happy to place on record that such sustained efforts have earned the State the status of a model welfare State and a forerunner in conceptualising and implementing many inclusive development and welfare programmes,” said the Governor who was eloquent in praising Jayalalithaa for her leadership in taking Tamil Nadu to a numero uno State in the country.
The salient feature of the Governor’s speech was the demand to the Union Government for expeditious implementation of the inter-linking of the Peninsular Indian Rivers. “The rivers from Mahanadhi-Godavari-Krishna-Pennar-Palar-Cauvery-Vaigai and then on to Gundar should be inter linked. This Government insists that the Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar link for which a feasibility study has already been done by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) may be expedited. All inter-state rivers should be nationalised on a priority basis so as to optimally utilise the water resources of the country,” demanded Roseaiah.
While thanking the union government for all the help extended during the Chennai floods, the Governor requested the Centre that the interests of Tamil Nadu be protected while introducing the Goods and Services Tax as the State stands to loss a lot because of the new legislation. “The Government of India should strive for a broad consensus on critical aspects like compensation period and methodology, revenue neutral rates, floor rates with bands, commodities to be excluded from GST, the IGST model and clarity on dual administrative control and ensure that the genuine apprehensions of the States regarding loss of fiscal autonomy and permanent revenue loss are allayed,” he said.