‘Plea for canal to be taken up with CM'

The 175th Samathuvapuram in the state was inaugurated

ASSISTANCE: Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan handing over a house allotment order to a woman during the inauguration of Samathuvapuram at Araichi in Tiruchi district on Saturday. State Minister K.N. Nehru, is in the picture. Photo: R.M. Rajarathinam

Deputy Chief Minister M.K.Stalin has promised to take up with Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi a demand for building a new irrigation channel to divert surplus water flow from the Mayanur barrage on the Cauvery River to Thottiyam, Thathaiyengarpet and Thuraiyur in Tiruchi district.

His assurance was in response to a plea from Congress MLA M.Rajasekaran who said that such a channel would help in feeding 160 tanks in the dry belt of the district.

The possibility of utilising the surplus flood water through a channel from Seela Pillaiyar Pudur to Thathaiyengarpet would be explored in consultation with Mr.Karunanidhi and Public Works Department officials, Mr.Stalin said while presiding over a function to mark the inauguration of the ‘Periyar Memorial Samathuvapuram' at Araichi village near Thathaiyengarpet on Saturday.

He also assured to take steps to augment drinking water supply under the Combined Drinking Water Supply scheme for Manamedu - Kulakudi village panchayats near Thathaiyengarpet. The Deputy Chief Minister said 148 samathuvapurams were established during the previous tenure of the DMK .

The Chief Minister after coming back to power in 2006 not only revived the scheme but also sanctioned 95 Samathuvapurams. Of these, 30 have been constructed so far and the Samathuvapuram at Araichi village was the 175th in the state. K. Anbazhagan, Finance Minister, who declared open the Samathuvapuram, said Tamil Nadu was a forerunner in the country in implementing poverty alleviation schemes. Steps have also been taken to keep the prices of commodities under check to protect the economically weaker sections. D. Napoleon, Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment, State Ministers K. N. Nehru and N. Selvaraj were among those who spoke.

Earlier, Mr. Anbazhagan laid the foundation for 192 works estimated at Rs.6.73 crore and declared open 241 buildings and infrastructure constructed at Rs.10.42 crore.

Mr. Stalin gave away aid worth Rs.11.56 crore to 2,339 persons. They included 1,000 members of Women self help groups (SHGs) who got revolving fund, economic credit and subsidy to the tune of Rs.10.59 crore.