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.