In the face of farmers' protests against the Chennai-Salem greenfield highway project, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami on Saturday rubbished the charge that the project was meant to benefit private miners and termed the allegation somebody's "figment of imagination" to tarnish the government.
"The project is not meant for the benefit of any individual but for overall development of Tamil Nadu," he told reporters at Salem airport, adding that some people, out of political vendetta, were trying to stop the Rs 10,000-crore eight-lane project by provoking people against it.
Palaniswami said the highway was a central government project and the state's role was limited to acquiring land for it. "We are taking steps to get adequate compensation for the people whose lands are being acquired," he said.
The chief minister said the highway would not only help in the development of Salem but also of nearby districts of Namakkal, Karur, Erode and Coimbatore. The highway would help reduce the travel distance as well as road accidents that result in loss of lives. Noting that a large expanse of land was acquired during the rule, Palaniswami said the present government was offering more compensation than that given during the DMK dispensation, as the guideline value had increased.
The AIADMK government has been accused of clamping down on the project's opposers. Student-activist Valarmathi has been on the charge of sedition, while environmentalist Piyush Manush and actor Mansoor Ali Khan were arrested for "instigating the public to protest" after they addressed a rally. Former CPI (M) MLA P Dilibabu was arrested for taking part in a black-flag protest.
