Tamil Nadu

State hopeful of getting aid for its scheme

CHENNAI: The State government is hopeful of getting aid under the National Cyclone Risk Mitigation Programme for constructing regulators at the mouths of rivers across the State, PWD Minister Durai Murugan told the Assembly on Friday.

Replying to a question from M.K. Periyasamy (PMK), he said the government had prepared a Rs.188-crore scheme for preventing sea water from entering into major rivers, including at the confluence of the Cauvery in Nagapattinam district. This was sent to the Centre and it had called the PWD secretary twice for talks on the issue.

The Centre had also considered the funding options, including approaching the World Bank since this was a national scheme. “I hope we will get the required finances soon,” he added.

Replying to another question from D.Sudarssanam (Congress), Mr. Durai Murugan said two earthmovers were stationed on the Cooum and Adyar mouths to ensure free flow of water into the sea. Silt deposit was very heavy at the mouth of both the rivers, he said and added that the earthmovers worked long hours each day to keep the silting under check.

K. Arumugham (PMK) said sea water ingress into the Palar was severe and had affected drinking water sources even about 10 km away. He asked if the government had any scheme to stop further ingress.

Mr. Durai Murugan replied that the Metrowater had earlier drawn up a Rs.84 crore scheme but the contractor had backed out.

He would enquire with Metrowater about the status of the scheme.

Earlier, the House condoled the death of former MLA A. Marimuthu. He was elected from Aduthurai in 1967.

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