Hogenakkal project will see light of day in 2012: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin today told the state Assembly the Rupees 1,334 crore Hogenakkal drinking water project, aimed at providing drinking water to the fluoride-affected Dharmapuri and Krishangiri districts, would be completed by 2012.
Replying to the debate on the demand for grants for Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department, he said the project was going on right track and would be completed by 2012.
He said efforts would be made to complete the project ahead of schedule on the lines of the Ramanathapuram Drinking Water Project.
Mr Stalin said Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had put the project on hold last year only to avoid any confusion or violence at that time as assembly elections were due in Karnataka. The project was now on track and was expected to be completed by 2012, he added.
The project involved providing quality drinking water to the people of Dharmpuri and Krishnagiri by drawing the Cauvery waters flowing through the Tamil Nadu side.
However, objections were raised by Karnataka and the project was temproarily put on hold by the Tamil Nadu government as Assembly polls were due in Karnataka last year.
Mr Stalin said he had personally visited Japan to secure financial assistance from the Japanese Bank of International Cooperation.
''Tenders for the first phase of the work have been issued and the work is scheduled to start in the next three or four months.
Steps would be taken to complete the project ahead of schedule.
Mr Stalin also announced that the state government would hike minimum wages for beneficiaries under the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme(NREGS) from Rs 80 to Rs 100.
Necessary changes would be made in accordance with the Minimum Wages Act.
He said the present wage of Rs 80 was fixed four years back and the government would take steps to hike it to Rs 100.
He also announced that one lakh new women self-help groups (SHGs) would be formed in the next two years.

-source from NEWKERALA.COM