Tamil Nadu is the only state to have attracted large investments generating job opportunities during the corona pandemic and the state’s economy will soon bounce back to normalcy, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said in his Independence day speech at Fort St George on Saturday.

Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, who hoisted the tricolour, salutes the national flag

Chennai:

Commenting about the corona mitigation works, Palaniswami said that the state had so far spent Rs 6,650 crores for corona treatment and mitigation works.

The state as on date has about 129,000 beds for COVID-19 patients and adequate medical professionals have been appointed to meet the crisis due to pandemic.

On the medical infrastructure front, the state has commissioned 11 medical colleges in the recent years, and it has stocked adequate medical machinery ranging from CT scans, ventilators and oxygen cylinder beds, the CM noted.

As part of Vande Bharat Mission, the state through the centre has helped a total of 64,661 people to return to Tamil Nadu.

Showering encomiums on late freedom fighters and political leaders including former CM’s Kamaraj and Anna, the CM said that the state was expediting the construction works of the former CM J Jayalalithaa.

The sprawling memorial in Marina will soon be inaugurated, CM said.

Palaniswami who accepted the 74th Independence day guard of honour also distributed awards for frontline corona warriors.

A special award for rendering advice for combating COVID-19 was given to Sowmya Swaminathan, chief scientist, World Health Organisation.

The Kalpana Chawla Bravery Award was awarded to three women — Senthamiz Selvi, Muthammal and Anandavalli — all from Perambalur district, who were in the news for rescuing two youths caught in floods.

As the state had requested the public to not gather in large numbers to celebrate the Independence Day, the usual gala was missing at the Fort St George, when the tricolour was unfurled.