The Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit announced that the state government will provide a cash gift of Rs 1,000 and a gift hamper to all ration card holders in the state on account of Pongal festival.
He was delivering his customary address in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Wednesday when he said, “I am happy to announce that this government will give a cash support of Rs 1,000 per family for the celebration of Pongal festival which will be applicable for the entire state, except Thiruvarur district where the Model Code of Conduct is in force following bye-election to the Thiruvarur assembly constituency.”
The gift hampers will consist of raw rice, sugar, raisins, cashew nuts, cardamom and sugarcane in an effort to mitigate the impact of Gaja cyclone in Cauvery delta and the widespread drought in northern districts.
Restructuring of TN transport corporations
The Governor said that the state government is embarking on a comprehensive restructuring programme for its transport corporations with the support of the German bilateral financing agency, KfW and has formulated a housing project for slum dwellers. "This would involve replacing the aging fleet with fuel-efficient BS-VI buses and procurement of environment-friendly electric buses in metro cities such as Chennai, Coimbatore and Madurai," he added.
He said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved funding to the tune of Rs 20,196 crore for expanding Chennai Metro Rail project for the priority stretches totalling 52 km from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur and Madhavaram to Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT), Koyambedu.
He said the loan agreement for the first tranche of approximately Rs.4,770 crore was signed on December 21, 2018 and that the work will commence shortly.
Housing project for slum-dwellers
The Governor, in his address, also stated that the state government has formulated a comprehensive housing project called 'Tamil Nadu Housing and Habitat Development Project' to transform slums in Chennai, Thiruvallur and Kancheepuram districts with World Bank assistance.
"A similar project for areas other than Chennai Metropolitan Area has been proposed to the Asian Development Bank for assistance. The common building rules will also be notified shortly to enhance the ease of doing business in the housing sector," he said.
Thrust to Aerospace and Defence industries
The state being a major automobile hub, thrust will be given for the promotion of new-generation electric vehicles with appropriate incentives, Banwarilal Purohit said.
Announcing that industrial hubs for defence products in Chennai-Vellore-Salem-Hosur-
The Governor also spoke about the revenue deficit and the delay in the Central government releasing IGST compensation that is due to Tamil Nadu.
Meanwhile, the DMK and Congress walked out of the Assembly at the start of the Governor's speech.