Fri Mar 14 14:00:45 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Budget Allocates ₹400 Crore for River Sewage Cleanup
**Tiruchi, Tamil Nadu – March 14, 2025** – The Tamil Nadu state government’s budget has allocated ₹400 crore for a project aimed at preventing sewage discharge into the Cauvery and other major rivers. The initiative, welcomed by farmers and civic activists alike, will focus on riverside development in Tiruchi, Madurai, Erode, Coimbatore, and Tirunelveli. Planned improvements include sewage treatment plants, footpaths, street lighting, modern toilets, and children’s parks.
Suresh Venkatachalam of the Srirangam Nagara Nala Sangam lauded the project but urged its extension to the Kollidam river and the full operationalization of existing sewage treatment plants. Similar support came from senior farmers’ leader P.R. Pandian and Ayilai Siva Suriyan of the Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, who emphasized the Cauvery’s importance as a livelihood and drinking water source. M.A. Aleem, a member of the Tiruchi District Welfare Fund Committee, also praised the riverside development plans.
The budget also received praise for its focus on healthcare, with improvements planned for cancer treatment facilities, and for its investment in education, including the distribution of laptops to 20 lakh students. However, some expressed disappointment over the exclusion of Tiruchi from plans for electric buses and a metro rail system, as well as the lack of attention to the long-standing demand for a service road from Palpannai to Thuvakudi. Concerns were also raised about the absence of an old-pension scheme revival announcement for government employees. While the budget was generally viewed positively, some criticized the perceived neglect of Tiruchi in several key areas.
First Piper 