After reaching out to farmers in villages, Collector K. Veera Raghava Rao addressed an awareness meeting and explained to the farmers, the works to be undertaken under the kudimaramathu scheme, the traditional system of involving the user community in cleaning waterbodies and supply channels, ahead of the north east monsoon.
After interacting with farmers and local people at Kottaiyendal, Selvanoor and Periyakulam villages in Kadaladi block, detailing the works to be undertaken under the scheme and asking the local community, especially farmers to involve themselves in the works, Mr Rao addressed the farmers awareness meeting at the Collectorate here on Tuesday.
He said the district administration, through the Public Works Department – Water Resource Organisation (PWD-WRO) proposed to desilt and develop 69 tanks at a total cost of ₹37.59 crore and asked the farmers to be aware of the works being undertaken in their areas and participate in the works.
He said 41 tanks under the control of Lower Vaigai Basin Division, Paramakudi, in Paramakudi, Ramanathapuram, Thiruvadanai, RS Mangalam and Mudukulathur blocks would be developed at the cost of ₹23.62 crore and 28 tanks under the control of Gundar basin sub division, Madurai, in Mudukulathur, Kadaladi and Kamuthi blocks would be developed at a cost of ₹13.97 crore.
Mr. Rao said the works would be awarded to registered farmers’ associations in individual villages on nomination basis.
While the government would bear 90% of the cost, the farmers’ associations would bear the balance 10% cost, he said. Farmers associations should cooperate to maintain quality and transparency in the works, he said.
Officials said the works would be taken up next week after completing the preliminary documentation. They proposed to complete the works by August, ahead of the north east monsoon, they said.
District Revenue Officer S. Muthumari, PWD-WRO Executive Engineer Venkitakrishnan, RDOs R. Suman (Ramanathapuram), S. Raman (Paramakudi) and Personal Assistant to Collector (Agriculture) S. S. Shaiek Abdullah were present in the meeting.
