New Delhi: A four-member team from Jal Shakti Ministry will visit Tamil Nadu soon to assist the drought-hit state in water conservation work.
Sources in the ministry told ETV Bharat on Saturday that the move was taken after the Tamil Nadu government claimed that it has taken several steps to implement Jal Shakti Abhiyan.
Tamil Nadu government is reportedly implementing water conservation projects in 5,807 village panchayats spread over 249 rural blocks across the state.
The state government has recently launched Rs 1000 crore Tamil Nadu Water Resource, Conservation and Augmentation Mission to rejuvenate water bodies with public participation. The government will also utilise Rs 750 crore from Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGS) to standardise water tanks.
The development assumes much more significance because Tamil Nadu was severely hit by drought this season.
During this summer, Tamil Nadu was reeling under an acute water crisis after Chennai's Porur Lake, considered as one of the major sources of water for the state, reached its lowest level.
The state also faced rainfall deficit which dried up major water bodies.
A report published by Niti Aayog also said that three rivers, four water bodies, five wetlands, and six forests have completely dried up in Chennai despite having better water resources.
Considering all the facts, the initiatives taken by both central and state governments have much more significance.
In fact, the Jal Shakti Mission initiated by the central government is presently at its second phase to cover states receiving North-East monsoon rains.
"Our ministry is ready to provide all possible support to the Tamil Nadu government so that it does not face critical drought situation again," an official in the Jal Shakti Ministry said.
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