Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam president M. Karunanidhi has refuted the claim of Chief Minister Jayalalithaa that major combined drinking water supply schemes were implemented only during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam rule.
In a statement on Thursday, Mr. Karunanidhi claimed that several major drinking water supply schemes were executed during his regime.
On the Narippayoor desalination plant project, it was executed by the DMK government and made operational in 1998 to benefit 296 villages in Kadaladi panchayat union. Though the scheme was announced by the AIADMK government in the 1990s, only the DMK regime had allocated funds, Mr. Karunanidhi said.
Regarding the Ramanathapuram combined water supply scheme, it was the DMK government that made an announcement in the Assembly on July 22, 2006. Foundation stone for the scheme was laid in Paramakudi on January 30, 2007, and, in the first phase, drinking water was supplied to four municipalities and five town panchayats from June 27, 2009.
In the second phase, Cauvery water was supplied to 32 habitations in Pudukottai district, 799 in Sivaganga district and several rural areas of Ramanathapuram district. The DMK paved the way for Krishna water to reach Chennai after it came to power in 1996, Mr. Karunanidhi said, adding that it was his government that initiated the process of implementation of the Hogenakkal combined drinking water supply scheme for Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.
The Minjur desalination plant, began by the AIADMK government, went on stream on July 31, 2010, because of the DMK government’s proactive steps, he contended.
The DMK got the required funds from the Union government for the Nemmeli desalination plant, which was inaugurated by Ms. Jayalalithaa recently, Mr. Karunanidhi added.
