The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Water users’ associations to be formed in Cauvery delta

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Monday, Oct 06, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Water users’ associations to be formed in Cauvery delta

Staff Reporter

For enhancing efficiency of irrigation management

— PHOTO: R. M. RAJARATHINAM

A MILESTONE: S. Audiseshiah, PWD Principal Secretary, releasing the silver jubilee souvenir of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association to R. Rajagopal, president of the Saranathan Engineering College, in Tiruchi on Sunday. S. Ranganathan, secretary of the association (left) and G. Kanakasabhai, president (second from right), are in the picture.

TIRUCHI: Water users’ associations will be formed in all ayacuts of Cauvery delta for enhancing the efficiency of the irrigation management system, Public Works Department Principal Secretary S. Audiseshiah said.

Speaking at the silver jubilee celebrations of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association here on Sunday, he said water users’ associations played a crucial role in adopting efficient irrigation management techniques in districts, including Coimbatore and Erode.

Following the extension of the Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Management of Irrigation Systems Act to the Cauvery delta recently, the associations would be formed in all the ayacuts. An initiative had already begun in Pudukottai district. He appealed to the farmers of the Cauvery delta to conduct elections and elect their representatives for the associations. He suggested that farmers keep a vigil on irrigation development programmes being implemented by the PWD.

Chairman and Managing Director of Agriculture Insurance Company of India, M. Parshad, said that 5.60 lakh farmers had been covered in the State under the National Agriculture Insurance Scheme during the 2007-08 fiscal as against 9.10 lakh farmers over the six preceding years. Premium collected in 2007-08 was Rs. 33 crore, while the claim settlement was to the tune of Rs. 205 crore. Mr. Parshad noted that agricultural operation faced a more serious risk in Tamil Nadu than in other States, advising farmers to prevail upon bank officials to include jewel loans under the insurance scheme to be eligible for more indemnity, as was in vogue in other States.

Association secretary S. Ranganathan traced the circumstances that led to the starting of the association. The celebration marked the 150th year of the starting of the Public Works Department and the platinum jubilee of the Mettur dam.

Association president G. Kanagasabai in his address underlined the importance of ‘kudimaramathu’ for ensuring an assured irrigational supply to farmers. PWD Principal Secretary released the silver jubilee souvenir and the first copy was received by the president of Saranathan College of Engineering, R. Rajagobal.

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