14.11 hrs. *DEMAND FOR SUPPLEMENTARY GRANTS (RAILWAYS), 2005-06 AND *DEMANDS FOR EXCESS GRANTS (RAILWAYS), 2002-03 MR. DEPUTY SPEAKER: Now, we will take up Item Numbers 13 and 14 together relating to Demand for Supplementary Grant (Railways) and Demands for Excess Grants (Railways). Motions moved: "That the supplementary sums not exceeding the amounts shown in the third column of the Order Paper be granted to the President of India, out of the Consolidated Fund of India, to defray the charges that will come in course of payment during the year ending the 31st day of March, 2006, in respect of the head of Demand entered in the second column thereof against Demand No.16." "That the respective excess sums not exceeding the amounts shown in the third column of the Order Paper be granted to the President of India, out of the Consolidated Fund of India, to make good the excess on the respective grants during the year ended the 31st day of March, 2003, in respect of the heads of demands entered in the second column thereof against Demand Nos. 14, 15 and 16." Shri Lakshman Singh to speak. *Moved with the recommendation of the President. 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DEPUTY-SPEAKER: Hon. Members, for Item Nos. 13 & 14 the time allotted is four hours. I have a very long list of hon. Members who wish to speak here. Therefore, I would like to request all the hon. Members, who would take part in the proceedings, to be conscious about the time and speak for only five minutes. इस ए 5-5 फ SHRI K.V. THANGKABALU (SALEM): Thank you Mr. Deputy-Speaker, Sir, for giving me this opportunity to speak on the Supplementary Demands for Grants (Railways) for the year 2005-06. Sir, at the outset, I congratulate the hon. Railway Minister for playing a dynamic role in developing the railway system in the country. Also, he has given a new direction. After its implementation, the system will work in a very transparent manner. Though he is doing very good work all over India, yet we have apprehensions and anguish that Tamil Nadu is not given its due share as far as Railways are concerned. In the Budget, the hon. Union Minister was kind enough to announce Rs.410 crore for the various developmental works in the State of Tamil Nadu. We have made a request to the UPA leadership under the Chairmanship of Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhiji, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. All the forty Lok Sabha Members from the State submitted a number of proposals relating to their constituencies and also proposals about a number of important projects which we have promised to the people before we came to power. Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi has given a personal letter, and also - as per the commitment made to the people of Tamil Nadu - all other political parties in the alliance of our UPA Government jointly gave the Memorandum. We, the 40-Member block, jointly met you, Sir, and discussed with you about various projects; but so far we are not able to get the justice which is due to us. I would like to request the hon. Railway Minister to consider the projects, which we have submitted, in toto. These are the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu. Particularly, there is a long-pending demand of the Salem Division. The demand for the Salem Division has been there for the last more than forty years. About nine districts, namely Salem, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Erode, Namakkal, Coimbatore, the Nilgiris etc.are an integral part of this area, but we are linked with Palakkad Division. These aspirations are not met by successive Governments. At this juncture, we would like to impress upon you that we are not against the Palakkad Division, we are not against our Kerala friends. We only want that the areas which are in the Salem range - as I mentioned about nine districts - should be carved out separately and be made a Division. This will fulfil the aspirations of the people of the Region. This is one of the most backward areas in the State of Tamil Nadu. At the same time, let Kerala have the Palakkad Division. We are not objecting to it; we are not asking you to divide or to totally close that Division. Let the Palakkad Division continue; let the Kerala friends enjoy that facility. We are not against that. It is very clear. At the same time, whatever they want extra in that area, we can give. For that also, we have no problem. Likewise, let them also not interfere in our area, in our jurisdiction and in our development. In fact, the Trivandrum Division has got Kanyakumari. Tirunelveli district is a part of that area. All these are there. We are not asking that. Let them be there only. Technically and academically a convenient Division has to be carved out, and for this, Salem is the only place. Salem is the right place to have the Division. This is the most important area of our request. All our leaders have prayed to you and all our forty hon. Members of Parliament have requested you; now I appeal to you to kindly announce this. All the forty Members are asking for only one Division. Our leaders have prayed to you, and all the Members have prayed to you. This has not been met so far. For the last one and a half year, myself and my colleagues in that area were put under pressure by the people. All the people, irrespective of political parties, are of the opinion that we should get it. People have been asking us to come forward and lead the agitation. That is what their demand is. We have been telling the people that it is our Government, he is our Minister, he is a leader of backward class people and his concerns are for the backward class. That is what we have been telling the people. If this is not done immediately, then we have no other option except to go to the streets or to the railway platforms to start the agitation. Sir, this is the position. So, I request the hon. Minister to kindly consider this important matter. Our hon. Minister of State in the Ministry of Railways, Shri Velu had visited Salem. In fact, he had seen the mood of the people over there. He also knows the demand of the various areas, that is, Bodinayakammpatti underground bridge. Shri Velu visited this place and saw the plight of the people. More than 12,000 people are affected in that area. About 14 villages are affected. People have not been able to use this route. So, I request the hon. Minister to announce that bridge and it should be implemented at the earliest. With regard to ROB programmes, we discussed with the hon. Minister. The State Government is not in a position to fund ROB programmes.