Govt to launch Rs 40 crore drinking water project

Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today said Union Environment Ministry has approved a Rs 40 crore drinking water proposal by Puducherry government by treating water from Ousteri lake near here and supplying it to meet requirements in Puducherry and Oulgaret Municipal limits here.
Talking to reporters, he said that the project to utilise the water from the Ousteri, a major water body in Puducherry,was evolved five years ago. However Union Environment Ministry disapproved it on the ground that the scheme would disturb the bird sanctuary in the lake.
"We have now clarified in our proposal to the Central Environment Ministry that the government would take steps to protect the sanctuary while implementingthe project.", he said.

A communication from Union Environment Minister was rece ived approving the proposal, he said.
He said the demonetisation of high value currency notes had hit the flow of revenue of the government with fall in earnings through sales tax, excise duty and other levies.
Narayanasamy said he had written a letter to the Union Finance Minister seeking adequate supply of new currency notes to the banks in the Union Territory, he said.