Rs 100 crore allotted for flood control works in Greater Chennai

The state government would allocate Rs 100 crore for flood control works in Chennai ahead of the north east monsoon, said Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in the Assembly on Friday.

He said the residential areas near the rivers Adyar, Arniyaru, Kosasthalai and Cooum, besides Kovalam basin are flooded during the north east monsoon season. The places which are affected most would be identified and works would be executed to drain the flood waters.

Link canals would be dug to link the lakes, the existing canals would be renovated and the water bodies would be deepened, he said. A flood control system would be formed, canals to carry surplus water would be dug and the storm water drains along the roads would be broadened, Palaniswami added.

The Chief Minister recalled that the government had earlier increased the pension for journalists from Rs 8,000 to Rs. 10,000, besides raising the family pension for journalists from Rs 4,750 to Rs 5,000.

His government would raise the ceiling for receiving the pension from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 3 lakh every year.

The financial assistance for journalists who fall ill would be Rs 1 lakh, the Chief Minister said. Earlier, the financial assistance for their treatment was just Rs 50,000.

In the Handloom department too, the Chief Minister came out with a few announcements. The Poompuhar show rooms in Chennai, Kolkata, Tiruchy and Thanjavur would be modernised to draw local and foreign tourists and increase its market.

He said the Poompuhar would conduct a Handifest, an international exhibition every year in Chennai.

The event would generate marketing opportunities for handicrafts, increase the income, exports and foreign exchange.