Tamil Nadu govt announces Rs 499.68 crore for restoration of water bodies

CHENNAI: Given the severe water crisis in the state, the Tamil Nadu government on Thursday issued an order to take up the kudimaramath scheme (traditional restoration of water bodies) at Rs 499.68 crore for the current fiscal. The traditional restoration of water bodies with the support of farmers will be implemented in 29 districts after both the monsoons failed last year, leaving the state high and dry.
This is the third sanction by the Edappadi K Palaniswami government towards kudimaramath scheme to strengthen tank bund, desilting of supply channel, surplus course, repair and reconstruction of sluices, weirs, repair and renewal of shutters, rehabilitation and desilting of canals.
“The regional chief engineers are directed to implement it as per the detailed estimates prepared and there should not be any duplication of work,” the order issued by the public works department said.
It is implemented through farmers’ organisations and ayacutdars (users), and 10% of the estimated cost is borne by them in the form of labour or material or cash.
The restoration of water bodies was launched with participatory approach on a pilot basis in January 2016 at Rs 100 crore. Two months later, the government sanctioned 1,519 under the scheme in Chennai, Trichy, Madurai, and Coimbatore regions.
The scheme was extended to 29 districts at a cost of Rs 328.95 crore in May 2018, revising the already sanctioned projects of the previous year. So far, 979 identified projects have been completed. This year, Madurai region tops the list with 681 completed projects, followed by Trichy, Coimbatore and Chennai.