The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : State to seek aid for cleansing Cooum river

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Tuesday, Dec 30, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

State to seek aid for cleansing Cooum river

Special Correspondent

Karunanidhi happy over Chennai’s infrastructure

CHENNAI: Expressing happiness over the impressive strides made in improving Chennai’s infrastructure, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said he would be fully satisfied only “when crystal clear water flows in river Cooum.”

Inaugurating the flyover at Thirumalai Road-Gopathi Narayana Road (G.N. Chetty Road) junction, Mr. Karunanidhi recalled the days when the late philanthropist Patchaiappa Mudaliar bathed in the river. The river should be cleaned in such a way that “our children can happily swim in it.”

Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin said funds had been sought from the World Bank to clean the river. He also disclosed his plans to seek the help of Sathya Sai Trust, which had earlier provided financial assistance for improving Krishna canals. The Chief Minister had asked for assistance when Sai Baba visited him.

“I along with PWD Minister Durai Murugan will soon approach Sathya Sai Trust,” he said adding that “we will achieve the task of cleaning the river within the term of the present regime.”

Mr. Stalin said Tamil Nadu had been allotted an additional Rs. 345 crore under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission on Monday, besides Rs. 360 crore allotted earlier.

The fund would be utilised for cleaning the Virugambakkam canal and Mambalam canal so that there would be no flooding in Chennai during monsoon. The flyover, constructed at a cost of Rs 16.50 crore, was named after Kalaivanar N.S. Krishnan. His statue was installed in the junction by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai.

“It was the last public function attended by Anna. It was presided over by me. So the flyover will be named after Kalaivanar,” the Chief Minister said.

Mr. Karunanidhi said all local bodies, whether they were under the control of the ruling party or opposition, were getting adequate funds from the DMK government.

The Chief Minister said Chennai had developed impressively and it would not be an exaggeration to say that its roads and by-lanes were on par with those that matched world standards.

Union Shipping Minister T.R. Baalu stressed the need for stringent laws to take action against those who deface flyovers by sticking wall posters.

Chief Secretary K.S. Sripathi, Municipal Administration and Water Supplies Department Secretary Niranjan Mardi, Chennai Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhani and Mayor Subramanian were among those who attended the function.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran also participated.

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