TN may get $500 mn for water projects

Chennai: Two Tamil Nadu projects - one on rural water supply and the other on water resources consolidation - are likely to receive a $500 million

(approximately Rs 2,307 crore) funding from the World Bank.

The projects were expected to take off in nine months' time, World Bank Director for India Michael F Carter told reporters after a nearly 35-minute meeting with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and later with Chief Secretary L K Tripathy.

According to an official release, the state government had sought an early approval of the two projects, estimated to cost Rs 3,900 crore.

Carter who said he had a "very good meeting with the Chief Minister", discussed some of the ongoing projects, including one on reconstruction of tsunami-affected areas, for which the World Bank had committed a total of $1.3

billion.

The Chief Minister underlined his commitment to ensure the implementation of these projects.

The outcome of some of the ongoing projects would be reviewed within a year, he said.

Already, five World Bank projects, including a $158 million poverty alleviation and a $435 million urban development project, both approved in July 2005, are set to continue till 2011.

The Bank has committed $682.5 million for tsunami reconstruction projects in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, according to a report.

During the meeting, besides Karunanidhi, some of his ministerial colleagues, including K Anbazhagan, and some senior government officers were present.