Date:19/06/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/06/19/stories/2009061954390400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Rs.200 crore for artificial recharge programme

Special Correspondent

Out of 103 works taken up, 88 had been completed, nine were on track while six were not found feasible

CHENNAI: A sum of Rs.200 crore has been allocated this year for the artificial recharge programme, Public Works Minister Durai Murugan told the Assembly on Thursday.

Answering a query from P. Dillibabu (Communist Party of India-Marxist), the Minister said that of the allotted amount, Rs.100 crore had been set apart for the Public Works Department (PWD) and the balance for other departments participating in the programme.

Recalling that the programme was announced in the Governor’s address to the House in 2008, the Minister said a total of Rs.550 crore had been approved for the programme.

Last year, Rs.100 crore was given, of which Rs.50 crore was allotted to the PWD.

Out of 103 works taken up, 88 works had been completed, nine were on track while six were not found feasible.

Land on lease

Replying to B. Ranganathan (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), on a national-level institute for information technology, IT Minister Poongothai Aladi Aruna said the State government, in an order issued in April last year, had directed that 101.75 acres at Melakottaiyur and Nallambakkam in Chengalpattu taluk of Kancheepuram district be given on 30-year lease to the Centre for Indian Institute of IT Design and Manufacturing. Last year, 60 students were admitted and this year too the same number of students would be enrolled.