TN to modernise irrigation canals in Cauvery Delta ( Rs 1,560 crore plan)

CHENNAI: With a view to protect Cauvery delta, the granary of Tamil Nadu, from effects of climatic change in the next four decades, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa on Monday announced a massive scheme to prevent sea water intrusion into delta areas in coastal districts and store flood waters for irrigation during summer, at a cost of Rs 1,560 crore. Asian Development Bank (ADB) has agreed to provide Rs 1,092 crore as loan while the State government would provide Rs 498 crore for this project, the CM said in the State Assembly. She added that the project would be taken up for execution on a priority basis and would be completed in the next five years. A total of 4.5 lakh acres in the districts of Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur would be benefited by this project. Leaders of political parties in the State Assembly hailed the CM’s initiative.