CHENNAI: Under the 'Jal Jeevan Mission' scheme introduced by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union minister for Jal Shakti, functional drinking water tap connections will be provided to every rural household in Tamil Nadu by 2024, assured the State Municipal Administration minister S.P. Velumani.
“I am proud to say that the Tamil Nadu Government is already providing piped drinking water supply to 99.11 per cent of rural habitations,” Velumani said in his address at the Jal Jeevan Mission conference in New Delhi on Monday.
Mr. Velumani said, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Conservation and Augmentation Mission, has been introduced to rejuvenate water bodies through the 'Kudimaramathu' scheme. "State Government has sanctioned Rs 1,000 crore for rejuvenation of all types of water bodies in the state and another Rs 750 crore for the reconstruction of sluices and other civil works in tanks in convergence with the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)," he said.
He also said, "Tamil Nadu government is providing piped water supply to 99.11 per cent of rural habitations. The priority of state government is to provide basic amenities and piped drinking water supply to all 79,394 rural habitations in the state. "We have established 548 combined water supply schemes (CWSS) maintained by the TWAD Board and 1,14,268 individual power pump schemes and associated distribution systems to supply protected drinking water to all rural habitations," he added.
Gives Memorandum to Union min Tomar
In a memorandum Mr. Velumani gave to Union minister for Agriculture, Farmer's Welfare, Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Mr. Narendra Singh Tomar in the national capital, he urged the Centre to release about Rs 2,300 crore for rural development schemes in Tamil Nadu.
These included Rs.194.78 crore towards 'Performance Grant' for the year 2017-18, rs 221.20 crore for the year 2018-19, Rs 876.94 crore towards second installment of 'Basic Grant' for the year 2018-19, and Rs 1,184.93 crore towards first installment of basic grant for the year 2019-20. Mr. Velumani explained in the memorandum that the above mentioned grants as per the 14th Central Finance Commission have still not been released to Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Velumani also urged Tomarji to sanction two lakh houses under the PMAY(G) special project for the cyclone 'Gaja' affected districts.
