FM: TN shelling out funds to implement central schemes

THE union government is yet to release funds for many schemes to Tamil Nadu, including ₹2,000 crore for Samagra Shiksha Abhiyaan, and the state has been spending its funds to implement the centre's schemes, Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu said on Sunday.

- EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE @Virudhunagar

Talking to reporters in Mallankinaru, Thennarasu said ₹26,000 crore for CMRL project is spent by state government. "The state has been spending more money to implement the PM's housing scheme," Thennarasu said, urging the union government to release funds allocated to the states.

The centre has been focusing on governments that are either run by the BJP or by its alliance partners, he alleged. "For example, funds released to a state like Uttar Pradesh is about ₹31,039 crore. For Bihar, it has been ₹17,403 crore. However, the entire funds released to the all four southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu stands at ₹27,336 crore," Thennarasu said.