Chennai: Tamilnadu Minister for Municipal Administration, Rural Development and Implementation of Special Programme S P Velumani today urged Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to sanction combined water supply projects to the tune of Rs 5,398 crore to the State.

In a memorandum submitted to the Union Minister in New Delhi, copies of which were released to the media here, he said the projects included a desalination plant and connected pipeline works with a designed capacity of 100 MLD to Villupuram and Tindivanam Municipality, Marakkanam and Vikkaravandi Town panchayat and 1601 rural habitations in 10 Panchayat Unions of Villupuram District with approximate cost of Rs.2,000 crore and expected population

benefitted is 16.78 lakh.

He also sought sanction for CWSS to eight Town Panchayats and 2452 Rural habitations in Sivagangai district with Cauvery river as source and expected population benefitted is 10.77 lakh and expected drawl of water is 78.40 MLD at a cost of Rs.1,800 crore, revamping and

rejuvenation of outlived 155 CWSS to improve the performance and supply efficiency at an estimated cost of Rs.1,000 crore

Velumani also sought sanction for mitigation works for improving the supply during the drought and summer seasons for the TWAD maintained Combined Water Supply Schemes (CWSS) at an expected cost of Rs 100 crore, creation of Rain water harvesting structures

for improving the water resources and conservation in TWAD maintained CWSS at a cost of Rs. 50 crore (463 works). He also sought funds to the tune of Rs 448 crore for the Rural Local Bodies to take up various drought mitigation works.

“In order to provide adequate and equitable Water Supply to the rural habitations of Tamilnadu these combined water supply projects to the tune of Rs.5398 crore are proposed for your kind sanction,” the Minister said.

Velumani also sought sanction of Rs 300 crore to take up Open Defecation Free activities in 1,000 Peri-urban and Bigger Village Panchayats for establishment of Micro Composting Centres (MCC) during the year 2019-20.