The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Rs. 25,000-cr. scheme to develop water sources: Chidambaram

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 11, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Rs. 25,000-cr. scheme to develop water sources: Chidambaram

By Our Staff Reporter

ERODE, APRIL 10. The Centre has formulated a Rs. 25,000-crore scheme with loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank to develop all water sources in the country within seven years, P. Chidambaram, Union Finance Minister, has said.

There were over five lakh water sources in the country and many of them needed improvement, Mr. Chidambaram told a seminar at Pavazhathampalayam near here on Saturday night. Stressing the need for rainwater harvesting scheme, Mr. Chidambaram lamented that many States were not taking steps to conserve water.

He said there had been a gradual decline in the seasonal rain and wanted the meteorological department to predict the monsoon condition using the latest scientific methods so that farmers might go in for alternative crops, which did not require much water.

He called upon farmers to take up cultivation of fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbal plants as they were having good export potential. The Centre had opened procurement centres in 16 States for farmers.

For weavers, the Centre announced life insurance and medical insurance benefits. The abolition of CENVAT and exemption of cotton and yarn from Central Excise duty would help the textile industry.

Former Union Minister K.V. Thangabalu and former State Minister Durai Ramasamy also spoke.

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