Puducherry: The Union environment ministry has given clearance for the Rs 40 crore drinking water project proposal by the Puducherry government using Ossudu lake water. The proposal was delayed for five years as the environment ministry denied permission on the grounds that Ossudu lake is a bird sanctuary. The project has been assigned to the PWD and would be completed in six months, said CM V. Narayanasamy while talking to newspersons here on Saturday.
“The government has informed the ministry that the project would be implemented without causing any harm to the sanctuary. This project would ensure the supply of protected drinking water to Pondy and Oulgret municipality areas with a supply of 20 mn liters of drinking water” he said.
The CM said he would press the Union government to compensate financial loss suffered by the Union Territory because of demonetisaton. The state has experienced 25 per cent reduction in tax collections. Trade, agriculture and tourism were badly hit, and shortage of small denomination notes is affecting the life of the people in a big way, the CM said. The issue was brought to the notice of union finance minister Arun Jaitely, he added.
Mr Narayanasamy said Union Minister for Shipping and Road Transport Pon Radhakrishnan will be visiting Puducherry on Monday and an agreement between the Chennai Port and Puducherry port for transportation of containers would be signed after consulting the minister.
