TN Govt to have fresh look at desalination plant

Cuddalore, May 18 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will give a fresh look at the much-awaited Rs 1000 crore desalination plant for Chennai to solve the city's drinking water crisis, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said.

Soon after assuming office at the Centre, the UPA Government had announced financial aid of Rs 1000 crore for the plant. However, the scheme did not take off.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Karunanidhi said the Government was receiving several complaints from various walks of life about the previous AIADMK Government's misdeeds in relief and rehabilitation measures and the Government would go into them and take suitable remedial measures.

A few Non-Governmental Organisations had put up some house constructions for Tsunami-affected people.

To a question, he said there were chances that the shutters of Mettur Reservoir be opened for irrigation in the Cauvery Delta Region on June 12 next, but he was not in a position to give details as the State Assembly was in session.

Responding to another question, he said the prestigious Sethusamuthiram project was proceeding in the right direction.

The Chief Minister said that the 'Uzhavar Shandies' (farmers markets) and 'Samathuvapuram,' which were introduced by him during his earlier rule in the state, and which were kept in abeyance by the previous AIADMK Government, would be given a fresh lease of life. Both the popular schemes would recommence shortly all over Tamil Nadu.

He said he would visit New Delhi by the end of May or early June to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and others and to discuss Union Government-sponsored welfare schemes for the state.

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