CHENNAI: Reviving the age-old practice of Kudimaramath among farmers in Tamil Nadu after decades, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Monday commenced the works from Manimangalam lake, a Pallava period irrigation structure in Kancheepuram district.
As of now, `100 crore has been allocated to undertake 1,519 works in 30 districts (except Chennai and the Nilgiris) with the contribution of farmers. The chief minister said more funds would be granted for this scheme in the coming years.
Parallely, State ministers launched the Kudimaramath scheme in various districts.
Official sources said the main purpose of the scheme is to increase the storage capacity of irrigation structures, which would help in cultivation and lift the groundwater table. Under this scheme, 90 per cent of the cost involved in Kudimaramath works would be borne by the government and 10 per cent by the user communities. If farmers wish to carry out this work on a much larger scale and are ready to contribute, the government would also increase its share, sources said.
Removing weeds, thorny shrubs, maintaining the lake bunds and inflow canals, removing the sand sediments in sluice gates, levelling the surface of the lake, renovating other structures in the lakes and ponds are among the works to be completed under the Kudimaramath scheme.
This massive effort is being taken up to rejuvenate the irrigation structures under the Public Works Department. Similarly, rural local bodies will undertake a large scale programme to improve minor irrigation tanks and irrigation structures under their control, besides cleaning up and improving ponds, ooranies (dug-out pond that traps rainwater run-off) and temple tanks by dovetailing funds under MGNREGS. Further, funds will be allocated from NABARD assistance for this scheme in the coming years.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister recalled that as of now, 16,098 lakes were under the maintenance of the Public Works Department. Particularly, traditional lakes were mostly located in coastal districts like Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thanjavur, Ramanathapuram and Tirunelveli. Kancheepuram alone had as many as 961 big lakes, which was why it was called Yerikal Mavattam (district of lakes), he pointed out.
Palanswami said there were 33 rivers and river basins in the State. The 33 river basins have been divided into 126 river sub-basins and in Kancheepuram, rivers like Adyar, Palaru, Kiliyaru and Cheyyaru were located.
Referring to the pro-farmer schemes of the State government, the chief minister promised that all the schemes initiated by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa would continue.