Lake restoration: Edappadi K Palaniswami gives Rs 1 lakh from personal funds
SALEM: In a heartwarming gesture, Chief Minister, Mr. Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday gave away Rs. one lakh from his personal funds to encourage poor farmers to restore a water-body in his home turf under the 'Kudimaramathu' scheme. Impressed by the work done by the farming community to de-silt a huge lake called 'Abhinayam lake' in Salem district, Mr. Palaniswami said, "in recognition of their voluntary work I have given Rs. one lakh from my personal funds; so farmers should protect this lake with great care, just as eyelashes protect our eyes."
Mr. Palaniswami, who has been touring Salem district and participating in various functions for the second day today, was at a Chief Minister's special grievances redressal camp at Attur, where he stressed that this programme was not to be taken lightly.
Petitions on various grievances from the people received at the camp in Attur will be keyed into a computer and action taken by the concerned department to redress them in a specific time-frame, Mr. Palaniswami said, adding, he was aware that Attur town faced a drinking water crisis. The government will allocate Rs.22 crore for replacing old, defective pipelines and streamline the drinking water distribution in Attur soon, he assured the people gathered there.
Mr. Palaniswami also sought cooperation by the farmers and their associations when the State had taken up a massive rejuvenation and restoration of 39,000 tanks and lakes across Tamil Nadu this year under 'Kudimaramathu' scheme.
Mr. Palaniswami said a new educational district was being carved out for Attur and with the town as headquarters, a new public health district will also be formed. After receiving petitions from the people there, the Chief Minister moved on to Peddhanaiyakanpalayam where the Abhinayam lake is situated. At various places including there, he said government was taking more steps to make things better for farmers including crop insurance. "We are trying to get more compensation for crop losses for farmers after consultations with the Prime Minister," he added.
