Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurated a project to desilt the Manimangalam Lake in Kancheepuram district under the State government’s Kudimaramathu scheme. He shovelled the first mound of sand from the lake.
“The scheme will be carried out by the State government in partnership with citizens, self-help groups and farmers associations. A total of 1,519 projects in 30 districts involving an expenditure of ₹100 crore would be taken up under the scheme,” Mr. Palaniswami said during the inauguration.
“Apart from cleaning the waterbodies, the scheme will also focus on strengthening of the lake bunds and weeding out the plants, including hyacinths,” he added. This scheme would ensure more storage in waterbodies and help farmers as well as improve the water quality in the neighbourhood. He also said that the North-East and South-West monsoons had failed, but the government would ensure that the people, especially the farmers, do not suffer without water.
Drinking water crisis
Drinking water crisis
Referring to Kancheepuram as ‘Erigal Maavattam’ (lake district), which has 961 lakes, Mr. Palaniswami said, that the AIADMK government has implemented various schemes which were announced by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa and would continue to work for the welfare of the people especially farmers. Apart from Kancheepuram, the desilting work would be undertaken in various districts across the State in the presence of Ministers, MPs, MLAs and District Collectors.
Dhal procurement
Later addressing mediapersons, he said: “20,000 metric tonnes of dhal is being procured and would be distributed to all ration cardholders. Likewise, palm oil procurement has been ordered and the cardholders would get all items from their rations shops in the coming weeks,” he said.
Chief Secretary Girija Vaidyanathan, Minister for Agriculture R. Doraikannu, Minister for Rural Industries P. Benjamin, PWD Principal Secretary S.K. Prabakar, WRD Principal Secretary S. Dinakaran, and Kancheepuram District Collector P. Ponniah participated.
