Velumani sure of getting funds for civic bodies

Responding to a query on failure to conduct local body polls, which had led to a funds crunch for local bodies, the Minister, observed that his ministry was in touch with the CM’s office to ensure smooth functioning of local bodies in administration by allocating more funds from the state. “We managed to receive the first phase of funding from the Centre. We have already sought the Centre to release the second tranche of funds. The same was insisted by Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam when he met the Union Finance Minister. The CM would also reiterate our demand and funds would be released soon,” he said. 

On holding the local body elections, the Minister maintained that the Delimitation Committee was poring over the objections and would soon finish the reorganisation of wards. He added that the elections would be held soon with the concurrence from the courts which are seized of the matter. He also assured that the schemes sought through Gram Sabhas will be positively considered by the state. 

As regards to the drinking water crisis, the Minister noted that the CM has given certain specific directions to Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department besides allocating funds to tide out the crisis in summer. 

Reeling out statistics on water supply, the Minister claimed that Chennai city would not face any water crisis until December. 

“The state has increased its water supply by 1,850 MLD per day. When AIADMK came to power in 2011, the water situation was 4,900 MLD per day. The present crisis is limited to borewells as most of them had gone dry due to the vagaries of monsoons. We have been taking measures to find new sources and sink borewells. We have given instructions to deepen the existing borewells besides fixing the damaged water pipelines and as well as the motors,” he added.