The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Karunanidhi promises speedy completion of Sethu project

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Karunanidhi promises speedy completion of Sethu project

Special Correspondent

“The project hit roadblock because of conspiracy by some people”

— Photo: L. Balachandar

FULFILLING A NEED: Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin opening a tap to mark the inauguration of the Ramanathapuram Combined Drinking Water Supply Scheme at Ramanathapuram on Thursday.

RAMANATHAPURAM: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Thursday promised speedy completion of the Sethusamudram project with the help of the UPA government.

“The project will not only spur industrial development in the southern districts, including Ramanathapuram, but will also generate employment and ameliorate the socio-economic conditions of the people,” he said while inaugurating the Ramanathapuram Combined Water Supply Scheme (RCWSS) through video conferencing from the Secretariat in Chennai.

Mr. Karunanidhi said the Rs. 2,427-crore dream project of the Tamils had hit the roadblock after completion of 60 per cent of the work because of a conspiracy by some people.

“It has to be completed quickly and I hope the UPA government will take steps for it.”

He said his long felt desire to solve the drinking water crisis faced by the drought-prone Ramanathapuram district was fulfilled with the launch of the scheme at a cost of Rs.616 crore.

Recalling the day when he laid the foundation stone for the project on January 30, 2007, the Chief Minister said if the project could be completed in a short span, the credit should go to Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

In the first phase the scheme would supply water to Ramanathapuram, Rameswaram, Paramakudi and Keezhakarai municipalities and Mandapam, Sayalkudi, Muthukazhathur, Kamudi and Abirami town panchayats.

Mr. Stalin said the scheme would meet the drinking water needs of the entire Ramanathapuram district. The second phase would be implemented in a month, covering Sivaganga municipality and several town panchayats and a number of hamlets in Sivaganga and Pudukottai districts.

To boost the confidence of women, the government was giving top priority to the self-help group movement. Out of 3,91,311 SHGs in the State, 94,527 were started after the DMK government assumed office in 2006.

A sum of Rs.288 crore and Rs.3567 crore was disbursed to 2.35 lakh SHGs as revolving fund and loan from banks respectively after 2006.

S. Thangavelan, Minister for Slum Clearance; K.S. Sripathi, Chief Secretary; Niranjan Mardi, Secretary, Municipal Administration and Drinking Water Supply; Dheenabandu, Secretary to the Deputy Chief Minister; Swaran Singh, CMD, TWAD Board; R. Vasuki, District Collector; K. Ritheesh, MP; K. Hasan Ali, R. Ramprabu and K. Murugavel, MLAs, took part.

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