The district administration of Kancheepuram has been allocated ₹476.5 lakh for rejuvenation of waterbodies.
Reclaiming and strengthening of bunds are being given priority while rejuvenating the waterbodies under Kudimaramathu programme is being undertaken by Water Resources Organisation of the Public Works Department in Kancheepuram district. Initially, 49 works were prioritised and are nearing completion in most places in the district, said Collector P. Ponnaiah. A sum of ₹28 lakh has been allocated for three works under Padappai division of Lower Palar River Basin the district, he said.
Mannivakkam, Manimangalam and Adhanur lakes have been prioritised in the Kudimaramathu project, which was launched by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on March 13 at Manimangalam.
Strengthening of bunds was completed at the Mannivakkam lake at a cost of ₹nine lakh. The lake developed major breaches during the December 2015 floods and were plugged by the PWD. “Drinking water crisis of Pammal and Anakaputhur are getting addressed on a war footing, for which funds have been allocated,” Mr. Ponnaiah said.
PWD sources said that these works were being executed with the involvement of all farmers of the ayacut area falling under the irrigation tank, and the works were being implemented with more accountability.
Several farmers from the district said that in some places finding experts’ committee members was difficult as many of the farmers were showing reluctance to come into that fold.
The committees were either governed by local politicians or ruling party members in many cases, they said.
Role of farmers
“We were carrying out Kudimaramathu decades ago with farmers voluntary getting involved in it. It has come back after several years. We have been demanding taking up of repair works in the tanks owned by panchayat unions that have been left in a shambles for long time,” S. Kothadapani of Maduranthagam said.
Government agencies should come forward to reclaim inlet channels and discharge channels, which would help them store water during the rains.
