Chennai: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday said that the government has proposed the best way to support the national highway authority of India (NHAI) for implementing their projects in TN.
The statement came after two days ago Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said at a public event NHAI find it difficult to search for construction aggregate and obtain environmental permits in Tamil Nadu because of the bureaucratic system.
As a result, NHAI has taken four major highway projects last year.
So, Gadkari urged Stalin to see the problem and solve it.
In a letter to Gadkari, Stalin said, “Considering the measures taken by the state government and the resulting progress in the field, your statement is somewhat surprising to me.” Stalin said that about 80% of the problems are resolved through a meeting participated by collectors, NHAI officials, contractors and top bureaucrats.
Furthermore, the problems relating to specific projects, each highlighted by NHAI, (like Vikaravandi – Kumbakonam – Thanjavur Road and Melur – Karaikudi Road) has been resolved with the intervention of the Minister of Highways Country EV Velu and Chief Secretary V IRAI Anbu, he said.
The Chief Minister said the NHAI also have to take some corrective measures, which causes delays.
For example, in some cases NHAI has not approved the assessment of land established by the competent authority for land acquisition (Cala) or an arbitration award given by the collector, put the process in limbo.
Similarly, in many cases the application is seeking permission to borrow the land be given without the necessary documents.
In some cases, the application has been given to sites that are not feasible due to the stagnation of water in ponds / tanks or fall in an environmentally sensitive zone.
Such applications need to be investigated prior to the filing, he said.
Because of Tamil Nadu had two spells of monsoon and generally tank / pool was under water for six months, the land granted permission to borrow for three months.
However, given the request given by the NHAI, Stalin said that measures are being taken to change the rules of mining to grant permission for a longer period.