Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on various issues concerning the State, including retrieval of the islet Katchatheevu (ceded to Lanka) to restore the fishing of fishermen in the Palk Bay.

It was submitted by the Chief Minister, while seeing off Mr Modi at the airport after the Prime Minister’s visit to the State during which he attended four events in his short visit.

Among the requests made by the Chief Minister included, equity sharing of the costs for Chennai Metro Rail Phase-2 project, acquisition of defence land for airport expansion (especially Parandur airport, which has been facing opposition from local villagers), production linked incentive for footwear industry.

He also urged the Centre to nominate SIPCOT as the master developer for the PM’s Mitra Industrial Parak already made a similar request- and set up a Regional Centre of Sports Authority of India to promote sports, especially in the context of Mr Udhayanidhi Stalin holding this portfolio, and pitching for holding more global events, including Asian Beach Games and other sports events of Nation Importance.

Mr Stalin, in the memorandum, also urged Mr Modi to drop the formation of railway line in Dhanushkodi near Rameswaram, change in nomenclature of certain SC/ST communities, offering greater share for TN in offshore wind energy projects, rectify anomalies on Toll Plaza collections by NHAI and ensure equal civil and political rights for Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka (as envisaged in the 13th Amendment),l and also retrieval of Katchatheevu islet, which was ceded to Lanka as per the 1974 agreement, for restoring the traditional rights of the TN fishermen.

(UNI)

(Except for the headline, this story, originally published by UNI has not been edited by SLM staff)