Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay allocates Rs 340 crore for water supply and drought relief

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay announced a Rs 340 crore allocation to address severe water scarcity across the state. The funding, approved after a high‑level review of monsoon deficits and drought conditions, earmarks Rs 330 crore for drinking‑water infrastructure and emergency supply measures and Rs 10 crore for the Animal Husbandry and Fisheries Department to provide fodder for livestock.

The plan calls for desilting and sinking new borewells, establishing additional infiltration wells, constructing water‑diversion channels, repairing power cables, transformers, valves and pumps, and deploying water tankers to critical areas. Officials were directed to monitor implementation through district monitoring officers and weekly collector meetings. The allocation also supports the Kuruvai Package Scheme, with 2,85,350 acres already registered and Rs 16.93 crore released from the Rs 134 crore budget to aid farmers.

The initiative targets districts that have recorded rainfall deficits of 19‑60 percent, including Chennai, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Ramanathapuram, aiming to ensure uninterrupted drinking water and mitigate drought impacts on agriculture and livestock.