Pondy to get new water scheme with French aid

The French government-sponsored Agency (French Development Agency) in Paris has consented to provide a soft loan of Rs 1,400 crores for the project to augment the drinking water supply and also for laying underground drainage pipes in the Union Territory, said Chief Minister V Narayanasamy. In the first phase, Rs 534 crore out of the total loan approved by the agency would be spent for Puducherry region to augment water supply. 

PWD and Local Administration Minister A Namassivayam said, the territorial government had inked a MoU with the French Agency in New Delhi recently for the allocation of Rs 534 crore. 

Chief Minister said the government would use the remaining amount for laying underground drainage pipeline and also for augmenting water supply in other three regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam in the next phase. The government would soon constitute a special purpose vehicle to implement the Smart City project.