Tamil Nadu flagship schemes assigned Rs 1,083 crore by Centre

Union Urban development minister M. Venkaiah Naidu is said to have helped Tamil Nadu get a sanction of Rs 1,083 crore for three flagship schemes of the Narendra Modi government. In a detour from a protocol where state government need to first approach the center for fiscal allocation, the minister went out of his way to bring officials from his department to Chennai and sanction the money to the state.

Of the total amount, approximately Rs 360.27 crore was sanctioned under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation, Rs 663.93 crore was sanctioned under the Prime Minister Awas Yojana and another Rs 59.14 crore was assigned for implementing the Deen Dayal Antyodaya Yojana.

With the intention of eliminating needless 'waiting time', the minister said that he reviewed the schemes in advance and expedite the projects. Speaking to the Deccan Chronicle, he further said, "This is being done as per the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who wanted me to inform the states about the budgetary allocation for various programmes and sanction the sum at one go. So, instead of CM, ministers and officials going to Delhi, I have come here along with my officers and sanction the sum."

He also said that this was done on the instructions of the Prime Minister who wanted to encourage the performing states. "There is nothing political in this. The only agenda is development. Since the way of the functioning of the Centre has changed, the way we execute developmental schemes has also changed."

• tamil nadu
• narendra modi