First phase of Cauvery drinking water scheme inaugurated

The first phase of the Cauvery drinking water scheme to supply drinking water to Oddanchatram in Dindigul district and the nearby areas was inaugurated on Friday.

Minister for Municipal Administration K. N. Nehru, Minister for Rural Development I. Periyasamy, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies R. Sakkarapani and others inaugurated the first phase of the drinking water scheme. The project is worth ₹1,368.05 crore and would cover 1,422 rural settlements in Oddanchatram municipality, two town panchayats and seven panchayat unions.

Mr. Nehru said the Cauvery drinking water scheme was being implemented at an estimated cost of ₹4,200 crore and out of this ₹1,360 crore was allocated for Dindigul and Oddanchatram areas and ₹2,840 crore was allocated for Ramanathapuram district.

He said that 75% of the work has been completed in Oddanchatram and the first phase has been inaugurated for public use The remaining work will be completed soon and steps will be taken to provide drinking water to all the villages.

Mr. Periyasamy said that the drinking water scheme will solve the drinking water problem of the people of Dindigul district. Necessary steps will also be taken to ensure that the district becomes self-sufficient in agriculture.

Mr. Sakkarapani said the scheme was launched in 2023. Through the scheme there will be no water problem in Dindigul district for the next 30 years. Palani MLA I. P. Senthil Kumar, Vedasandur MLA S. Gandhirajan and others were present.