With a view to deepening the water bodies such as tanks and ponds, District Collectors of Tiruvannamalai and Vellore have announced that farmers, potters and the public can lift alluvial soil from them after submitting an application to authorities concerned.
Tiruvannamalai Collector Prashant M.Wadnere said those who want to make use of the soil can apply to the Assistant Director (Mines) and Joint Director of Agriculture seeking permission to do so.
Farmers would be allowed to take 90 cubic meter (30 tractor loads) of soil per acre of dry land, 75 cubic meter (25 tractor loads) per acre of wetland; the general public would be allowed to take 30 cubic meter (10 tractor loads) and potters would be allowed to take 60 cubic meter (20 tractor loads). Farmers should apply with details such as classification and area of land. They should enclose a certificate from Village Administrative Officer providing details of their land or residence and the location of the water body from which they wants to lift the soil. They should also provide a copy mentioning the crop they intend to cultivate. Permission would be given to lift the soil within seven days of submitting the application. Only the PWD executive engineer would load soil into the vehicle of the farmer. A loading charge of ₹35.20 would be levied on each cubic meter which means ₹105.60 on every tractor load, the statement said. Vellore Collector S.A.Raman in a statement issued on Tuesday said that 974 water bodies (both under the maintenance of PWD and Rural Development departments) had been identified for the lifting of the soil.
Farmers, potters and the general public shall apply before May 27 at taluk office or office of the assistant agriculture officer concerned to take soil from these tanks, ponds and puddles, he added.
