Chennai: With
a view to meet the growing drinking water needs and improve
infrastructure in the urban areas of the state, chief minister
Jayalalithaa on Thursday laid the foundation stone for various schemes
including drinking water augmentation scheme worth Rs 265 crore, and
inaugurated newly constructed buildings at a cost of Rs 29.3 crore
through video conferencing from the secretariat.

An
official release said the chief minister inaugurated a new scheme
completed at a cost of Rs 22.2 crore aimed at providing safe drinking
water for 78,600 populace of Tirune­lveli corporation. 

She also
declared open various buildings constructed at a cost of Rs 27.92 crore
including the office of municipal administration commissioner in Salem
and the new bus terminus constructed at the cost of Rs 80 lakh at
Maraimalai nagar.

An
underground drai­nage scheme for Nagercoil at an estimate of Rs 76
crore, and drinking water augmentation schemes for eight municipalities
costing Rs 189.22 crore were among the Rs 265.26 crore worth schemes
launched by her.  Besides this, Namakkal is to get a under ground
drainage scheme at a cost of Rs 22.23 crore.

Meanwhile,
CPI (M) legislator K. Balakrishnan appreciated the chief minister for
handing over appointment orders to the heirs of the 394 deceased
employees of education department on compassionate grounds, conceding to
the demand made by him three days earlier.