09 April 2004 14:15
Change of Govt. alone can quench thirst: DMK
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president, M. Karunanidhi, today squarely blamed the State Government for the
drinking water problem in the city. "The crisis cannot be solved as long as the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra
Kazhagam (AIADMK) Governemnt continues in office," he said.
Mr. Karunanidhi, who began the second leg of his poll campaign at West Saidapet here, said the thirst of the city
residents could have been quenched had the Government implemented a multicrore desalination project with the assistance
of a Russian firm last year. Now the company, which had bid for the contract, went to court alleging corruption, he
said.
Denying the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's charge that the previous DMK Government shelved the New Veeranam
Scheme in 1996, he said the idea of bringing Veeranam water to the city was originally conceived in the late 1960s
during C.N. Annadurai's tenure. But the Rs. 20-crore project could not be implemented following expert opinion. The
present government's plan to implement the new Veeranam scheme at a cost of Rs. 720 crores was not feasible for
lack of water in the lake. The government had to invest a huge amount in pumping water from giant borewells using
electricity, he pointed out.
During his previous tenure as Chief Minister, the Government gave serious thought to implementation of desalination
projects. A pilot scheme was introduced at Narippaiyur in Ramanathapuram district. But the AIADMK Government did not
maintain it properly, though the scheme had ensured drinking water supply to 237 habitations, he alleged.
Mr. Karunanidhi claimed that only a "change of government in the State could pave the way for quenching the
thirst of the residents in the city." He called upon the electorate to "issue notice" to the State
Government, exercising their franchise in favour of the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA).
"The question before the electorate now is whether India shines or not." Neither the country nor the State
shone. "How can the State shine when prices, unemployment, crisis in the agricultural sector even in the delta
region due to recurring drought and migration of entrepreneurs to other States are on the rise," Mr. Karunanidhi
asked.
The special economic zone at Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district, a permanent trade centre near Ramavaram here and the
mega scheme to clean rivers and waterways in many districts including Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli and Tiruchi were
initiated, thanks to the efforts by DMK MPs, but they were not effectively pursued by the AIADMK Government, he
alleged.
Mr. Karunanidhi released near the Aranganathan subway a giant gas balloon bearing his picture and those of the
Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, and the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief, G.K. Vasan. People including a large
number of women lined up the road at many places and DPA activists received Mr. Karunanidhi with flags and festoons.
[The Hindu] |
RUSSIA IN FACTS
