Edappadi K Palaniswami: Rs 500 crore released for ‘Kudimaramathu’ schemes

CHENNAI: In a major thrust to 'kudimaramathu' schemes - rejuvenating of water bodies across Tamil Nadu- the State government was in the process of de-silting and clean-up of 1,829 big lakes and tanks in the current financial year involving an outlay of Rs 500 crore, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said.

Addressing a review meeting at the Secretariat on Friday on schemes taken up by the PWD's buildings and water resources organisation during 2019-20, Mr. Palaniswami said that while some of the 'Kudimaramthu' projects were underway, several others have already been completed.

“We have accorded top priority to water management schemes and accordingly chalking out programmes; in this list the 'Kudimaramthu' schemes have been tremendously welcomed by farmers and members of the public,” he said. “We are also taking steps to make rainwater harvesting a people's movement.”

Referring to the Athikadavu-Avinashi water scheme for arid areas of Coimbatore and Tirupur districts, Mr. Palaniswami said that it was “Amma's dream project and we are implementing it in right earnest.”

Stating that the AIADMK government had announced a massive project to build check dams with a financial outlay of Rs 1,000 crore over a three-year period, Mr. Palaniswami said the meeting discussed the streams and rivers across the state where such check dams could be constructed.

The PWD secretary, Dr K Manivasan, Mr. Vibu Nayyar, project director, modernization of irrigation project, senior-most IAS officer Dr K Satyagopal, were among those who participated in the function.