TIRUNELVELI
Minister for Local Administration S.P. Velumani, who chaired a meeting here on Wednesday to review the progress in implementation of development works, particularly the arrangements to assuage the drinking water crisis looming large across Tamil Nadu, assured that distribution of drinking water to residents was being streamlined by involving officials while augmenting supply.
The Minister, after the review meeting, said the water scarcity prevailing in the State was due to successive monsoon failure. “However, the State government is mitigating it effectively by allocating sufficient funds for drinking water supply and these exercises are being monitored by IAS officers in all districts.”
Mr. Velumani said he also reviewed the construction of houses under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and other development programmes being implemented in local bodies. He said that major schemes for augmenting drinking water supply were being executed in the southern districts. “Six drinking water projects in Tirunelveli, three in Thoothukudi, four in Kanniyakumari and one in Virudhunagar are being implemented on an outlay of ₹1,761 crore. All drinking water schemes are being expedited by allotting sufficient funds,” Mr. Velumani said.
Local body officials had been instructed to organise inspections in the morning as done during the anti-dengue drive to check drinking water supply. Establishment of rainwater harvesting structures would be checked and made operational during these inspections, he said.