Source : The Hindu Date : 30.06.2009
Hogenakkal water supply project work to begin in 3-4 months
Special Correspondent
Project-related activities on schedule, says Stalin
CHENNAI: Work on the Hogenakkal Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project will begin in three to four months after awarding of contracts, Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin told the Assembly on Monday.
Concluding a debate on the demands for grants to Municipal Administration, Water Supply, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj departments, Mr. Stalin said that the Rs. 1,334-crore project, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was scheduled for completion by December 2012.
Responding to a query from K. Arumugam (Pattali Makkal Katchi), he asserted that the project-related activities were on schedule.
Just as the Ramanathapuram water supply project was finished in two years against the original timeframe of three years, efforts would be taken to complete the Hogenakkal project early.
Water for Vellore
Referring to the plea of several legislators, including R. Gandhi (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), for a water project to solve the problem of drinking water shortage in Vellore town, Mr. Stalin said that a project, estimated to cost Rs.1,400 crore, had been drawn up with the Cauvery as the source.
To cover six municipalities
The project would cover the Vellore Municipal Corporation, six municipalities, five town panchayats and 64 wayside habitations. A detailed project report had been prepared. Once the funds were firmed up, it would be implemented.
The Rs.59.32-crore Second Vaigai Water Supply Improvement Scheme, meant to benefit Madurai city and taken up under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission, would be commissioned shortly.
A plan with an outlay of Rs.2,497 crore had been prepared, of which projects to the tune of Rs.624 crore had been sanctioned.
Announcements
Giving an account of the status of announcements he had made in the last three years, Mr. Stalin said that with regard to Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, 64 announcements were made, of which 58 had been fulfilled. Action was being taken to implement the rest.
As for Municipal Administration and Water Supply, 292 announcements were made, of which 184 were implemented and 104 were being fulfilled. The remaining four announcements were cancelled.
