Chennai: All local bodies in Tamil Nadu must supply drinking water for at least three hours daily, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has ordered. At a review meeting of the municipal administration and water supply department on Monday, Vijay set a five-year deadline for officials to ensure uninterrupted 24x7 drinking water supply in all 25 municipal corporations, 146 municipalities, and 479 town panchayats across the state.
Key Directives on Water and Sewage
The chief minister emphasized that untreated sewage must not be allowed to enter water bodies. He also called for greater reuse of treated wastewater for industrial, commercial, park maintenance, and other non-potable purposes. The ambitious mission is estimated to cost ₹1.5 lakh crore over five years. The government plans to mobilize funds through Union and state government schemes, municipal bonds, Finance Commission grants, and support from international funding agencies.
Review of Central Schemes
Vijay reviewed Centre-sponsored schemes such as AMRUT, AMRUT 2.0, Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), JJM 2.0, and SBM 2.0. Officials informed him that Tamil Nadu could utilize the Union government's Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) to execute infrastructure projects worth around ₹30,000 crore. The chief minister instructed officials to ensure all Centre-funded schemes are completed within stipulated timelines and to prepare and implement new projects under UCF without delay.
State Initiatives and Urban Development
Vijay also reviewed the status of flagship state initiatives, including the Urban Development Programme, Singara Chennai 2.0, and the Urban Roads Improvement Programme. He directed officials to prepare a comprehensive urban infrastructure development plan integrating drinking water supply, underground sewerage, stormwater drains, transport, environmental protection, public health, and climate resilience.
River Restoration and Green Infrastructure
The chief minister directed officials to undertake restoration of the Cooum River and Buckingham Canal alongside the ongoing Adyar River restoration project. Proposed works include diversion of sewage outfalls, pollution control, riverbank strengthening, flood mitigation measures, ecological restoration, and biodiversity enhancement.
Vijay instructed officials to expand green infrastructure and open public spaces across all urban local bodies by 2031. Modern parks and recreational facilities are to be developed in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, and Tiruchirappalli, while sponge parks will be created to aid flood prevention and rainwater management.
Tree Plantation and Animal Birth Control
He further directed the establishment of biodiversity and ecological parks in all urban local bodies with populations exceeding one lakh and the planting of five crore saplings in urban areas over the next five years to improve green cover, biodiversity, and climate resilience. The chief minister also reviewed plans to establish animal birth control centers in all corporations and municipalities by 2031, with smaller facilities for town panchayats and shared regional facilities where required.
