Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Virendra Kumar on Monday said that thousands of houses in Chengalpattu will soon have access to clean drinking water through pipes through efforts taken by the Central government.

Speaking at a programme held in National Institute for Empowerment of Persons’ with Multiple Disabilities at Muttukadu, the Union Minister said that under the Central Government’s Jal Jeevan scheme, 151 village panchayats in Chengalpattu district have already been provided with clean drinking water through pipes and the project is to be expanded to 208 more village panchayats.

“In the coming year, work will begin under the scheme in 142 village panchayats in Chengalpattu at a cost of Rs 64 crore. Apart from this, under the Prime Minister’s Housing Scheme, a target of 16,265 houses are set to be built in the district this year and permissions have been given for construction of 11,308 houses,” he said. He also noted that 15 projects are being implemented under the Pradhan Mantri Village Road Scheme in the district and Rs16 crore is being spent for this.

Minister Virendra Kumar also spoke on the topic of a drugfree nation and said that thousands of students have taken a pledge to not fall prey to drugs.