Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Saturday said the government will make efforts to create a scheme to link Godavari-Krishna-Palar rivers to bring in a green revolution in drought-hit Vellore district.
Addressing the gathering at the birth centenary celebrations of the former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran in the Fort City, he said the State government will take steps to implement the Thenpennai–Palar river linking project. “We are taking steps to obtain permission from the Centre to implement the river linking project at a cost of ₹660 crore,” he said.
He said a project estimate was being prepared for the Tiruvannamalai-Vellore Combined Water Supply Scheme with the Cauvery as a source to solve the drinking water needs of 11 town panchayats and 4,917 rural habitations in Vellore district. “Through this scheme, 21.47 lakh persons in Vellore district, 25.91 lakh persons in Tiruvannamalai district and 2,70,458 persons in Kancheepuram district will benefit,” he said.
Tourist spot
The Chief Minister said Andiappanur Odai, a reservoir in Vaniyambadi taluk, will be made into a tourism destination. Work for this will be taken up in two phases, he added.
Listing the announcements for employees of Tamil Nadu Industrial Explosives Limited (TEL), Mr. Palaniswami said the pending salaries from January to August 2017 would be disbursed as per rules soon.
He said that 60 employees of TEL had been transferred to other public sector firms. “The remaining employees, who wish to seek transfer, will continue to get jobs in public sector firms, ” he said.
On the occasion, welfare assistance of ₹275.43 crore were given to 34,170 beneficiaries. Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambidurai, Speaker of State Assembly P. Dhanapal, Ministers K.C. Veeramani and Nilofer Kafeel and Collector S.A. Raman spoke.
