Chennai: Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Saturday gave administrative sanctions for various integrated drinking water schemes for Chennai and other parts of the state estimated to cost around Rs 853 crore.
A press release from the secretariat said that the project, aimed at increasing the drinking water storage capacity in Chennai, would be executed under the Tamil Nadu Investment Promotion Programme.
As per the project, two water bodies in nearby Tiruvallur district will be integrated and converted into a mini reservoir and the facility will be interlinked with the Poondi reservoir at a cost of Rs 93.77 crore. Water from Poondi could be diverted to Kilpauk and Chembarambakkam water treatment tanks to cater to the public.
The release also said that the CM had approved the expansion of drinking water schemes in Arani, Periyakulam, Tindivanam and Tiruvanthipuram under the Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) at a total estimate of Rs 117.69 crore.
A similar project will be taken up in Tirunelveli, utilising German funds, the project requiring an estimate of Rs 230 crore, with the government also providing an annual fund to the tune of Rs 11crore for operations.
The state also sanctioned funds to the tune of Rs 412 crore for setting up drainage facilities benefiting six municipal areas, including Periyakulam, Arakkonam, Tirupathur and Mettur. The initiative will improve sanitation in all the six municipal areas and prevent pollution of local water bodies and canals, the release added.
