Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday promised the electorate in delta districts of Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur that the AIADMK government will ensure the linking of Godavari and Cauvery rivers to bring about a permanent solution to the water crisis during cultivation season.
“The State government has already held discussions with Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on the ₹60,000 crore proposal. The river-linking project will be pursued on a priority basis,” the Chief Minister said.
Mr. Palaniswami also promised that waterbodies would be desilted for harnessing rainwater and check dams would be constructed across sea-bound rivers to raise the water table, as recommended by a team of retired PWD officials entrusted with the task of devising district-wise plans.
Referring to the DMK's “unfulfilled promise” to provide landless farmers with two acres of arable land, he said the AIADMK had fulfilled all the promises made by Jayalalithaa in the party manifestos in 2011 and 2016. Accusing the DMK of inciting violence, he held the Opposition party responsible for obstructing the distribution of ₹ 2,000 to below poverty line families. “The anti-poor action of the DMK will reflect in the elections,” the Chief Minister said, holding out an assurance that the AIADMK will resume distribution of the amount to all poor labourers irrespective of their political leaning after the polls. Major schemes such as establishment of food parks and livestock research and massive industrial investments initiated recently by the government envisage improving the living conditions of farmers and the economically downtrodden, he said.
Mr. Palaniswami canvassed for AIADMK candidates S. Asaimani (Mayiladuthurai Lok Sabha), M. Saravanan (Nagapattinam Lok Sabha) and R.Jeevanandam (Tiruvarur Assembly) during his day-long campaign.