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New water scheme for Tiruchi soon

Special Correspondent

TIRUCHI: A comprehensive drinking water supply augmentation scheme for Tiruchi will be implemented soon, the Local Administration Minister, M.K. Stalin, has said.

He was speaking at a function to mark the opening of a new market complex at Sengulam Colony here on Friday. He also laid the foundation stone for a new link road between Anna Nagar and Lawsons Road and for the expansion of Chetti paalam (bridge) across the Uyyakondan.

A departmental meeting to discuss the new water scheme was scheduled for June 13, Mr. Stalin said. The scheme, proposed at a cost of Rs. 99 crore, was intended to ensure equitable distribution of drinking water to all parts of Tiruchi.

Referring to a recent decision of the Government to waive debts of corporations and municipalities to the tune of Rs.760 crore, Mr. Stalin said that the move would help the local bodies take up fresh capital works by raising new loans.

Representatives of the local bodies had been demanding that the interest on the loans be either written off or reduced.

Loan waiver

However, the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, ordered the waiver of the loans along with interest dues as the waiver of interest alone would not help much.

"The Government is committed to addressing all issues and ensuring implementation of welfare schemes without political bias," Mr. Stalin said.

The Tiruchi Corporation stood to benefit Rs. 6.75 crore through interest waiver while the Manapparai Municipality stood to benefit Rs.12.55 crore through loan and interest waiver.

Ministers K.N. Nehru and N. Selvaraj, Collector Ashish Vachchani, Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman and Deputy Mayor M.Anbazhagan were present. Mr. Stalin laid the foundation stones for various development works of the Corporation, Rural Development Department and the Highways estimated to cost Rs.121.28 crore.

He also disbursed welfare assistance to the tune of Rs. 2.01 crore to 4,146 beneficiaries.

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