It is due to the untiring effort of the AIADMK government that helped the long-cherished dream of the people of two districts - the Hogenakkal Drinking Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Scheme - turn a reality today, said Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Inaugurating the scheme through video conferencing from Chennai on Wednesday, the Chief Minister said that though the initiative faced many hurdles over the years, she removed one after the other whenever she was in power and saw to it that the scheme was launched.

Recalling the progress and difficulties that hampered the speedy implementation of the scheme Jayalalithaa said that the AIADMK-government led by then Chief Minister MGR in 1986 conceived a `120-crore plan for the Hogenakkal Compreshensive Drinking Water Supply.

After the AIADMK came to power in 1992, the proposal for the scheme was redrafted with a revised estimate of Rs 350 crore. However it could not take off due to lack of financial support.

However, Jayalalithaa, who was fully committed to quench the thirst of the people of Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri with pure and safe drinking water, during her second term, again drew another proposal for the scheme at a cost of Rs 1,005 crore and it was to be funded by the Japan International Cooperative Bank.

The proposal being okayed by the Centre in 2005 and the Japan bank also agreed to fund the initiative. Later, in 2008, the foundation stone was laid for the Hogenakkal Drinking Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Scheme. But, the scheme again faced problems as the then BJP Government in Karnataka opposed the move and several agitations to block the scheme was staged in that state.

Following the resistance from Karnataka, the AIADMK also staged counter agitations condemning the Karnataka’s bid to stop the scheme on March 3, 2008.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on  March 27 and April 1, the same year, adopted a resolution seeking Central Government’s intervention to stop the Karnataka Government’s move against the scheme.

But M Karunanidhi, who was the Chief Minister then, informed the House on April 4, 2008, that the ongoing works on the drinking water scheme was being suspended.

Jayalalithaa questioned the suo motu announcement of Karunanidhi on suspension of works in the House on April 8, 2008 and sought a debate on the issue.

As the Speaker refused permission for a debate, Jayalalithaa  said that the DMK government led by Karunanidhi did not have enough courage to execute the project. However, if people voted her to power, she would see to it that the scheme was implemented.

When she returned to power again in 2011, only 18 per cent of the works were completed against the stipulated 50 per cent at that time.  She immediately put pressure on officials to expedite the works as a result of which the project was commissioned today.

A group of women residents, M.Theivanai, S Santhi, G Mangammal, A Vijaya, S Pachiyammal, S Janaki and J Janaki, were among the first lot to get water through the scheme at the venue in Dharmapuri.