Kerala CM urges Tamil Nadu counterpart Vijay to ease restrictions on stone aggregate transport

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has written to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay seeking the latter’s personal intervention in easing restrictions placed by the Tamil Nadu government on inter-State transport of stone aggregates, which was “threatening to delay” national highway and other strategically important projects in Kerala.

In his letter dated July 28, Mr. Satheesan said a Tamil Nadu government notification on July 9, which introduced provisions regulating the inter-State transportation of rough stones and construction material, has significantly affected the movement of stone aggregates supplies from Tirunelveli, Tenkasi and Kanniyakumari districts to Kerala.

These districts have traditionally been the principal source of stone aggregates for the execution of several national highway projects in Kerala.

Mr. Satheesan pointed out that Kerala has limited natural availability of suitable stone aggregates for large-scale infrastructure works and the State has been heavily dependent on the neighbouring districts of Tamil Nadu for meeting the requirements for the ongoing NH projects.

He said the restrictions have adversely impacted the supply chain and disrupted construction activities, which now pose “a serious risk of delay” in the completion of many of Kerala’s strategically important projects.

Mr. Satheesan explained that the national highway projects were significant not just for Kerala, but for “the southern region as a whole” and that these were expected to improve regional connectivity and logistics efficiency, facilitate trade and tourism and enhance access to economic hubs in both Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

Connectivity to Vizhinjam port

The projects will also provide seamless connectivity to the Vizhinjam International Seaport and the International Container Transshipment Terminal at Vallarpadam.

Mr. Satheesan said he “appreciated the objectives” behind Tamil Nadu’s policy, that of ensuring sustainable management of natural resources. He, however, urged that “a balanced approach” may be evolved that would accommodate the requirements of nationally important infrastructure projects, while not compromising the regulatory policies of Tamil Nadu.

The letter, invoking the “spirit of cooperation” that has always “characterised the relationship between the two States,” expressed confidence that the Tamil Nadu government would extend its fullest cooperation in resolving the matter “expeditiously.”