The work of lifting top soil, silt and gravel from 431 irrigation tanks maintained by Public Works Department and Panchayat Unions in Virudhunagar district for the use of farmers, potters and other members of public began here on Tuesday.
Virudhunagar Collector A. Sivagnanam inaugurated the scheme at Thathampatti in Virudhunagar taluk.
The Collector said that the top soil, silt and gravel could be taken by the farmers and others free of cost. However, only a particular quantity of soil could be scooped out in each of the tank, he added.
Farmers, potters and the other members of the public should submit an application seeking the soil for their farm or pottery or other use to the District Collector with relevant documents along with the certificate from the Village Administrative Officer.
The scheme is aimed at providing the nutritient-rich top-soil for the farmers and also to desilt and deepen the irrigation tanks so as to augment water storage capacity, the Collector said.
The Assistant Director (Mines), K. Ayyadurai, said that usually the soil is given to the farmers and potters throughout the year.
“But, this year, we are trying to give as much top soil and gravel to the farmers and others only with the view to increase the storage capacity before the onset of the monsoon,” he said.
Virudhunagar Tahsildar Syed Ibrahim Sha, Block Development Officer (Village panchayats) Muniyappan, were among those who were present.
