The Tamil Nadu government today announced a series of welfare measures, including proposing new engineering colleges and drinking water projects, totally a cost of over Rs 1,000 crore.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa announced combined drinking water projects for Cuddalore and Puthukottai districts based on Kollidam river at a cost of over Rs 575 crore.

Similar projects were also announced for Theni, Dindigul, Tirunelveli, Kancheepuram and Chennai districts at an overall cost of over Rs 200 crore, a state government release said.

Further, new engineering colleges would come up in Dharmapuri and Tanjavur districts at a total cost of Rs 179.80 crore.

The Chief Minister approved an initial sum of Rs 14.10 crore towards each college, which will come up in Chettikarai and Chengipatti in the respective districts, it said.

Jayalalithaa also directed setting up 10 new polytechnic colleges, including in Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Theni and Vellore districts at a proposed cost of Rs 138 crore.