The construction work of the Hogenakkal Drinking Water and Fluorosis Mitigation Scheme is on fast pace and the DMK government which took the initiative is fully satisfied the with the progress of the work from Phase I to Phase V, said M.K. Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister here on Tuesday.
After inaugurating the Phase III and Phase V of the Hogenakkal Project in Harur at a cost of Rs. 203.56-crore, Mr. Stalin told the newsmen that the Government Order for the same was issued on October 22 this year. Phase III of the project envisages water supply from the scheme to Harur, Kadathur, Kambainallur, Pappireddypatti and some other town panchayat comes under the Harur, Morappur and Pappireddypatti Panchayat Unions. He also inaugurated the construction of the Over Head Tank and the ground level water storage tank.
Construction work of the Phase I of the project would be over by April 2012. Fifteen per cent of the construction work for Phase I is almost completed. Work on Phase II would be over by 2012, Phase IV by September 2012 and Phase V by 2012 December. Totally Rs. 175-crore was spent for the Hogenakkal project.
When asked about the criticism by the principal opposition party, Mr. Stalin challenged them to prove that the works were not started. He is ready to prove the charges with the evidence if the Opposition Leader has come forward at their convenient time to witness the progress of the works. Opposition parties are politicising the issue. “The DMK government had never bother about the criticisms and will continue its good services to the society”, he said.
Later Mr. Stalin laid the foundation stones for 28 works at an investment of Rs. 17.17-crore. Inaugurated 1870 development works at a cost of Rs. 40.46-crore and also gave away welfare assistance to 9903 persons at a cost of Rs. 36.79-crore at a function in the Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Harur.
The Samathuvapuram concept initiated by the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi during its rule between 1996 and 2001 was kept in abeyance by the successive AIADMK government. At least they should have maintained the 145 Samathuvapurams established by the DMK government. The DMK government, which came in to power in the year 2001, allocated Rs. 16.80-crore for the maintenance of the Samathuvapurams. Mr. Karunanidhi announced another 95 Samathuvapuram to mark the life-time of his mentor Periyar. As per the announcement the government has established 29 Samathuvapurams during 2008-09, 30 Samathuvapurams during the year 2009-10, of this 14 were already declared opened, the Sundangipatti Samathuvapuram is the fifteenth one. The rest of the Samathuvapuram’s will be thrown open to the public before February 15, 2011. Another 36 Samathuvapurams will be established during the financial year 2011-12.
He added that so far he had distributed revolving funds to 1,78,437 Self Help Groups and spent 115 hours for distribution for the last four and half years.
In his felicitation speech, CPI (M) M.L.A. Dillibabu urged Mr. Stalin on the sanctioning of a Government Arts College and Malibnum factory as it will give employment opportunity to as many as 5000 educated youths in Harur region.
He also insisted the government to extend the benefit of the Kalaignar Veetu Vasathi Thittam to the people living in hilly areas and tribal’s and give away patta to the landless labourers. He sought the upgradation of the Harur Town Panchayat as Municipality.
Mr. V. Mullaivendan, Morappur M.L.A. (DMK) endorsed the demands of Mr. Dilli Babu.
He also urged the government to issue free sugarcane saplings to the farmers in the district. R. Thamaraiselvan, Dharmapuri M.P. appealed to Mr. Stalin to allocate Rs. 55 crores (fifty per cent) of the cost of the Rs. 110-crore Dharmapuri-Morappur new Railway line.
R. Ananthakumar, District Collector presided over the function. R. Ravichandran, Project Officer, DRDA welcomed the gathering. Maheshwari Ravikumar, District Revenue Officer proposed vote of thanks.
"Wrong calculation"
As the election to the State Assembly is round the corner during the first half of the next year, the Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin called up on the ruling DMK’s former ally, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) not to allow their calculations go wrong.
In lighter vein, he referred the speech of the CPI (M) M.L.A. Mr. P. Dillibabu at function that he was wrong in his calculations and announced that the function was ``Aimberum Vizha’’, but the function was organized for ``Aaruperum Vizha’’ which were inauguration of Samathuvapuram, distribution of houses to the beneficiaries of KVVT, distribution of revolving fund, inauguration of new buildings, laying foundation, inauguration of new buildings and distribution of welfare assistance.
