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Special package to complete Kerala water supply projects

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government, Kerala Water Authority and NABARD will jointly implement a special package for completing works on water supply projects that had been stalled for want of funds.

Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran told journalists that more than 40 projects needing Rs.750 crore would be completed within two-and-a-half years. Most of these projects had been stopped after the Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) discontinued funding. A sum of Rs.150 crore had already been spent on them.

The Minister said the package would be carried out in a transparent manner with public participation. A people’s convention of Members of Parliament and Assembly and local self-governments representing project areas would be held here on May 14 to finalise the schemes for inclusion in the package. Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the convention. Administrative and technical sanction for the schemes will be granted at the convention elf and handed over to NABARD authorities for approval and sanction of funds. Schemes will be included only if the required land is available.

Mr. Premachandran said the package was finalised after several rounds of talks he along with Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac had with officials of NABARD. It was being taken up as one of the important projects in the third year of the government. Special committees will be formed to monitor and evaluate the schemes, which would benefit about 14 lakh people. He said the proposed agreement with Tamil Nadu on supply of water from Neyyar would not harm Kerala. It was only a water supply agreement for five years unlike the Mullaperiyar agreement, which was a lease agreement.

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