Will take all steps, supply water to Chennai, says minister

CHENNAI: Local administration minister S P Velumani on Monday assured the state assembly that the government would take all steps to supply water to Chennai residents. The issue was raised by leader of the opposition M K Stalin during the debate on on the motion of thanks for the governor’s address.
“Southwest monsoon as well as the northeast monsoon have failed Chennai. As of now we have only 12% of the total capacity of drinking water in all the reservoirs across the city and there is a 51% deficit in northeast monsoon alone. There is no mention in the governor’s address about all these,” said Stalin.

The DMK president said the city residents were worried. “What has happened to the desalination plants announced by the former chief minister and other drinking water projects for the city,” asked Stalin.

“With the present capacity in Chennai reservoirs, we will be able to manage till March. From February onwards we are expecting Krishna water as well as water from Veeranam dam,” said Velumani.

He said water from various wells in Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram districts and from Neyveli mines would be brought to Chennai for drinking purpose.

When deputy leader of opposition S Duraimurugan wanted to know about new desalination projects, the minister assured him that very soon the work would start.

Asking what steps have been taken to tackle climate change, Stalin said, “In the past few years we have seen cyclones like Nisha, Vardah, Ockhi and Gaja. In all these we have lost lakhs of trees. We have cut several thousands of trees for the Salem Expressway. What steps are we taking to save our environment? We must have a separate department for climate change.” The government did not react to the suggestion but forest minister Dindigul Srinivasan said for every tree lost the department planted at least three saplings.

Deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam announced that the state government will construct high-rise structures to accommodate 364 families in Kalyanpuram near Wall Tax Road.

Each unit will cost 13.7 lakh, he said.

The existing tenements were built in 1976. Replying to a calling attention motion moved by Harbour legislator P K Sekar Babu, the deputy chief minister said the plan was to build two blocks with stilt and 10 floors. “About 100 families staying on the banks of Buckingham canal will be accommodated,” he said. Panneerselvam said the slum clearance board would obtain the enumeration data from Greater Chennai Corporation of about 1,500 families on road side and accommodate them at tenements in Perumbakkam.