Corporates, NGOs should extend support to clean water bodies

Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghawal today exhorted Corporates and NGOs to come forward and support the initiative to clean water bodies.

Several companies and associations have come forward to clean Ganga and Yamuna rivers and help prevent their pollution, Union minister of State for Water Resources, said during an interaction with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Farmers' bodies on conservation of water here.

Noting that Coimbatore Municipal corporation has received funds under the Smart city project from the Centre, he said it should utilise them to protect and improve the conditions of lakes in the region with the support of NGOs.

"The centre is implementing Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY) to protect ground water resources and inspection will be carried out in Coimbatore to check whether the scheme is properly implemented," Meghawal said.

Responding to a query from a participant on Anamalaiaru and Nallaru water scheme in the district pending for the last five decades, the minister said he came to know of the scheme only now.

The Centre would take efforts to implement the scheme, based on the agreement signed between Tamil Nadu and Kerala during 1960's, which would benefit the farmers in Coimbatore and Tirupur, he assured.