Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday presented Union Budget 2004-05 in the Lok Sabha, and announced Gross Budgetary Support of Rs 30,000 crore for water-related projects.

Drinking water for all. Minor irrigation, water harvesting to be encouraged.

To face the "crisis of water", an ambitious scheme to repair, renovate and restore all the water-bodies is proposed.

The first desalination plant of its kind will be set up near Chennai to battle the city's drinking water crisis.

All water bodies to be restored to original health using assistance from multi-lateral agencies.

One lakh irrigation units to be revamped using assistance from NABARD. Fifty per cent subsidy is to be provided for such schemes.