“Venkata Narayana, who has been appointed as the Delhi Representative, will not be making any major decisions from that position,” clarified Minister for Energy Resources and Law R. Nirmalkumar.

He chaired a review meeting with the officials of various departments in Madurai on Saturday.

Speaking to press following the meeting, he noted that Mr. Venkata Narayana was from Andhra Pradesh and not Karnataka.

“He is someone who stood by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay when he faced numerous pressures. Responsibility has not been given to the wrong person. He is only going to do coordination work from Delhi,” he added.

When asked about the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court’s order cancelling the Government Order (GO) providing reservation rights to those converting to Islam, he said, “An appeal will be filed against the court verdict. This case was taken up in a hurry. An appeal will be filed within a few days.”

Speaking on the cancellation of the contract of a private company in waste collection, he said, “In Corporation works, solid waste management operations can only be given to private entities. We have ordered an inquiry and action regarding the mistakes committed by the old company that was awarded the contract during the previous government will be conducted.”

“In Madurai Corporation, it was found during the inspection that the current contract company has committed several irregularities. We have asked to register a case. Last month, irregularities were detected, and they are going to file a complaint against the company and register a case,” he noted.

For the question on Murasoli’s article regarding the Electricity Department’s white paper, Mr. Nirmalkumar, answered, “The public knows what is in the white paper. What exists and what does not exist in the electricity department, and the state electricity department functions in the past 25 years had reached all general public very clearly. I have stated it with proper evidence.”

He said that they have clearly stated how much revenue has come after the tariff change and that they have invested in the development of the electricity department, et al.

“Following the tariff change, a massive revenue has come; a new revenue of ₹69,000 crore. Service must be given to the public. If both are not there, that revenue is of no use to anyone,” he observed.

He remarked that the white paper was understood by the people and there was no need for Murasoli to understand it. “Murasoli will not understand it till the very end,” he added.

When asked about the stagnation of paddy bags at paddy procurement centres, he said, “In many places, procurement centres are operating temporarily. We are going to identify government lands and start the work to erect sheds. Wherever procurement centres are operating on private lands, we will identify them and shift them to government lands.”