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Tamil Nadu
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Chennai
CHENNAI: At least 1.5 lakh artificial groundwater structures are expected to be in place across the State by October-end. The scheme will be implemented under the Central government programme of artificial recharge of groundwater through dugwells. The structures are to be installed in 232 groundwater-stressed blocks (over-exploited, critical and semi-critical) to improve the groundwater table. The scheme will help to increase the sustainability of wells during the lean period and improve the overall irrigated agricultural productivity, the drinking water availability, the socio-economic conditions and the quality of life of the people in the affected areas. A subsidy of Rs. 4,000 per well is given to small and marginal farmers, while other farmers will get Rs. 2,000. While the Union Water Resources Ministry is the nodal agency, the Union Finance Ministry funds the scheme through the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development. The Central Groundwater Board and the State Groundwater Department are among the agencies involved in the design and execution of the project. Tamil Nadu is one among the seven States covered by the programme. A sum of Rs. 509 crore has been earmarked for the State, and the total outlay is Rs. 1,798 crore. A government official says Rs. 59 crore has been earmarked for covering 1,58,954 open wells. Of this, Rs. 9.5 crore was distributed last week to various branches of nationalised and cooperative banks, which are participating in the scheme. The beneficiaries are required to open savings bank accounts to which the subsidy will be credited. The remaining sum of Rs. 49 crore will be transferred to the banks by October 10. The important feature is that the subsidy is not given in cash. Organisers roped inThere are 11.8 lakh open dugwells in the State, and small and marginal farmers own 80 per cent of the wells. To monitor the implementation, 1,000 organisers, drawn from the local community, will be appointed to cover 1,000 wells each. So far, 350 organisers have been roped in. They will be given a consolidated sum of Rs. 5,000. The official says the administration plans to sanction the amount required for another 1.5 lakh wells by the middle of October. The idea is to have three lakh structures in place before the northeast monsoon turns vigorous, so that the scheme will impact a substantial portion of the State. On Friday, S. Manoharan, Additional Secretary of the Water Resources Ministry, reviewed the status of the programme with Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department S. Audiseshiah and other officials at the Secretariat.
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