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.