Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chief Minister MK Stalin at the foundation stone laying ceremony and inauguration of various projects, in Chennai on Saturday. , Photo Credit: M. Vedan
Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday handed over a memorandum of demands of the state, falling under nine departments, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These include implementation of Metro Rail Phase II on equity sharing, free allotment of defense land for airport expansion, construction of Sports Authority of India’s regional center in Chennai, retrieval of Katchatheevu and restoration of traditional fishing rights of Tamil Nadu fishermen Was. , among others.
He requested Shri Modi to ensure that defense land and land owned by other Central Government departments are made available for the expansion of airports in Tamil Nadu. He said that since SIPCOT has the ownership rights of the land and has proven efficiency in running the industrial park, it should be made the master developer of the PM Mitra Industrial Park.
He also wanted the Prime Minister to set up a Sports Authority of India regional center in Chennai, pointing out that there was already a proposal to set it up at the Tamil Nadu Physical Education and Sports University.
He also requested Tamil Nadu to host the Asian Beach Games, stating that the state has 1,076 km of coastline and that the National Beach Volleyball has already been held in Chennai.
The Chief Minister also expressed his government’s desire to organize the Khelo India Youth Games. Mr. Stalin urged Mr. Modi to insist on the Railways to leave the line at Dhanuskodi near Rameshwaram as it was an eco-sensitive area.
Other demands include change in nomenclature of certain communities to SC/ST, a greater share for Tamil Nadu in offshore wind energy, rectification of anomalies in toll collection by NHAI and securing equal civil and political rights for Sri Lankan Tamils.