PRESS RELEASE Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru S. Joseph Vijay orders allocation of Rs.340 crore for drinking water and other essential works, after reviewing southwest monsoon rainfall, drinking water supply in districts, and the status of agricultural crop cultivation Under the chairmanship of Hon'ble Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Thiru S. Joseph Vijay, a detailed review meeting was held today (31.07.2026) at the Secretariat on the southwest monsoon rainfall in Tamil Nadu, drinking water supply in districts, and the status of agricultural crop cultivation. The Hon'ble Chief Minister held detailed discussions at this meeting on the following subjects: i. Water storage/water level in dams. ii. The quantum of southwest monsoon rainfall received in Tamil Nadu so far, and the situation in districts where rainfall has been recorded as deficient. iii. Drinking water supply in urban and rural areas. iv. Ongoing agricultural operations and the status of Kuruvai cultivation, and distribution of Kuruvai input kits for crops. v. Availability of fodder stock required for livestock. vi. Progress and functioning of drinking water supply and other essential scheme works. From June, the start of the southwest monsoon season, until today (31.07.2026), rainfall has been below normal. In particular, in 20 districts (Chennai, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi, Kanchipuram, Madurai, Mayiladuthurai, Nagapattinam, Namakkal, The Nilgiris, Karur, Ranipet, Vellore, Thoothukudi, Tirupathur, Tiruvallur, Tiruvarur, Tiruvannamalai, Viluppuram, and Tiruppur), rainfall has been recorded as 19 to 59 percent below normal, while in Chengalpattu and Ramanathapuram districts it has been recorded as more than 60 percent below normal. In such a situation, strengthening drinking water sources has become essential. Accordingly, the Chief Minister has ordered that works including desilting of existing borewells, sinking new borewells, rehabilitating water intake wells at raw water pumping stations, constructing additional water intake wells, constructing flow-diversion channels, replacing damaged power cables, rectifying faults in transformers, replacing valves and appropriate equipment to resolve problems in water pumping pipelines caused by power interruptions, replacing old water pumps, replacing damaged pipelines, and supplying drinking water through lorries in essential locations, be carried out so that essential drinking water is supplied to the public without any shortage. In the Agriculture-Farmers' Welfare Department, 2,85,350 acres have been registered under the Kuruvai input kit scheme up to 30.07.2026, and of the allocated Rs.134 crore, Rs.16.93 crore has been released so far. It was further reported that the Kuruvai input kit scheme is planned to be fully distributed by 15.08.2026. The Hon'ble Chief Minister directed the Agriculture Department to expedite completion of this work. Owing to the prevailing dry conditions, officials were directed to stock fodder required for livestock at the regional level in advance. At this meeting, in order to expedite implementation of works to improve safe drinking water and water resources across Tamil Nadu, the Hon'ble Chief Minister ordered a total financial allocation of Rs.340 crore — comprising Rs.330 crore for improving water resources and supplying drinking water through lorries via the Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department and the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, and Rs.10 crore for the Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries — Fishermen Welfare Department. Senior IAS officers appointed as monitoring officers for the state were directed to visit their respective districts to carry out monitoring work, and District Collectors were directed to hold weekly review meetings every Monday on the progress of drinking water supply and other essential scheme works, take immediate action, and ensure that drinking water is made available without any shortage. The meeting was attended by Hon'ble Minister for Agriculture-Farmers' Welfare Thiru R. Vinoth, Hon'ble Minister for Finance, Planning and Development Thiru Se. Marimuthu Vikraman, Chief Secretary Dr. M. Vaikundam, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department Thiru Gagandeep Singh Bedi, IAS, Additional Chief Secretary of Finance Department Thiru M.A. Siddique, IAS, Secretary of Animal Husbandry, Dairying, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department Tmt. Anu Nagaraj, IAS, Agriculture Production Commissioner and Secretary of Agriculture-Farmers' Welfare Department Dr. Po. Sankar, IAS, Secretary of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department Thiru Prashant M. Wadnere, IAS, Managing Director of Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Thiru S. Anand, IAS, Commissioner of Disaster Management Thiru A. Sivagnanam, IAS, and other senior government officials. Released by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9