The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “18th canal to be named after Palanivel Rajan”

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Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“18th canal to be named after Palanivel Rajan”

Staff Reporter

Former Speaker instrumental in bringing scheme to district

— PHOTO: G. KARTHIKEYAN

Long-awaited: PWD Minister Duraimurugan addressing the inaugural function of the 18th canal at T. Sindhalaiseri near Theni on Monday.

GUDALUR (THENI): The 18th canal would be named after former Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan. From now, it would be called Palanivel Rajan Channel, announced Durai Murugan, Minister for Public Works Department.

He was inaugurating the 18th canal scheme at T. Sindhalaiseri village near here on Monday.

The former Speaker was instrumental in bringing the scheme to the district for the benefit of farmers in the drought prone areas of the district.

The credit should go to him, he added.

Escalated cost

Failure of the previous AIADMK government that did not sanction revised estimate by adding Rs.3 crore has escalated the project cost to Rs.33 crore from Rs.28.6 crore.

“The rulers should not see who introduced the project. They should see the beneficiaries of the scheme. The rulers should work without viewing the project politically. The DMK government had implemented several schemes introduced by the then Chief Minister M. G. Ramachandran. Such mind set alone would bring a desirable change in the society,” he added.

11 major projects

In his special address, Public Works Department principal secretary S. Adhiseshaiah stated that Public Works Department had taken 11 major projects in the State. Four projects had been completed so far and the rest were in progress. While 58 canal scheme at Usilampatti would be completed by March’09 and Mambazhathuraiyar dam in Kanniyakumari would be over by this December.

Sixty per cent of work of ‘Malattaru dam’ project was over and the rest would be executed soon, he added.

A century-old dream

Revenue Minister, I. Periasamy said that farmers’ 100-year old dream had become true.

Farmers should realise the work done by the State government and support it to work with more vigour in future.

Collector P. Muthuveeran advised farmers to adopt system of rice intensification programme to reduce production cost and for better yield.

Former MLA, L. Mookaiah appealed to the Public Works Department Minister to implement Vowalthurai dam acrorss Pambaru river above Kumbakarai falls and Veerappa Iyanar dam project for the benefit of several villages in the district.

Desilt tanks

Bodi MLA, S. Lakshmanan appealed to desilt 44 tanks and their supply canals to enable farmers enjoy the benefit of 18th canal.

To benefit 4,464 acres

Public Works Department Chief Engineer P. Ramamurthy said that 4,464 acres in Uthamapalayam and Bodi blocks would be benefited through 44 irrigation tanks.

The project was conceived in 1999 and executed in 2008 at a cost of Rs.33 crore to benefit farmers of 13 villages in Uthamapalayam and Bodi blocks.

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