Date:24/05/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/05/24/stories/2008052456700100.htm

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“Keep Hogenakkal project on schedule”

Special Correspondent

Karunanidhi tells officials at review meeting

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Friday asked officials concerned to complete the Rs.1,334-crore Hogenakkal Drinking Water Project as per the schedule fixed by the government.

The project had been put on hold after violence broke out in Karnataka in protest.

The issue came up for discussion at a review meeting of the Municipal Administration and Water Supply department chaired by Mr. Karunanidhi here.

On April 5, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had said his government would wait till a popular government assumed office in Karnataka after the Assembly polls in May. He had expressed hope that the new ministry would abide by the 1998 agreement to implement the water project.

The deadline for the Rs.616-crore Ramanathapuram Integrated Drinking Water Project has been set as April 2009 and construction of the desalination plant in Minjur would be completed before January 2009.

The Chief Minster urged the officials to speed up works at another desalination plant in Nemili on East Coast Road.

A State government press release said many projects being implemented in Chennai came up for review in the meeting. The Chief Minister, who studied drinking water availability in lakes, stressed the need for monitoring drinking water supply in the city.

Laying of underground sewage pipes in streets where there was no drainage network would be over before the end of next month.

To ensure the safety of conservancy workers, the government would buy nine more sewer desilting machines.