Collector Shilpa Prabhkar Satish has urged the public to save every drop of rainwater by creating rainwater harvesting structure in every household and strictly avoid use-and-throw plastic products.
Participating in the gram sahba meeting held at Tharuvai under Palayamkottai panchayat union near here on Thursday as part of Independence Day celebrations, she said the State government had sanctioned ₹43 crore for desilting 185 waterbodies under the ‘kudimaramathu’ scheme and 118 small irrigation tanks and 218 ‘ooranis’ are to be desilted under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.
The work, with the active participation and guidance of farmers’ associations, were being executed effectively with utmost transparency.
“Anyone having any doubt or complaint about the manner in which the desilting work was being implemented can take up the issue with the officials concerned or with the Collector,” she said.
“Since the Chief Minister is keen on conserving waterbodies through these works, people should join hands with the official machinery by creating rainwater harvesting structure in every household. Every drop of rainwater we get during this northeast monsoon should be saved so that there is phenomenal improvement in groundwater table,” she said
She also urged the villagers to consciously avoid use-and-throw plastic products in their day-to-day activities by using cloth bags. While asking the villagers to shun open defecation, she said individual household toilets should be built in every house.
“Since the government gives subsidy to beneficiaries, toilet should be built in every house as it is a matter of your pride and self-esteem, especially for girl children and women,” she said. She said sanitary complexes in all villages should be maintained with adequate water facility. She asked the villagers to make use primary health centres to ensure their wellness especially health of girls, pregnant women and children instead of going in for self-medication.
The Collector narrated the Centre’s water conservation programme, Jal Shakthi Abhiyan and subsidised housing schemes being sponsored by the Centre and the State governments. She handed over orders for constructing two green houses.
Sub-Collector, Tirunelveli, Manish Naranavare, Project Director, District Rural Development Agency, A. Palani and senior officials participated.
In Kanniyakumari district, Collector Prashant M. Wadnere participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Mela Koduppaikuzhi along with Additional Collector Rahulnath and Colachel MLA J. G. Prince.
In Thoothukudi, gram sabha meetings were conducted in all 403 village panchayats. Collector Sandeep Nanduri participated in the gram sabha meeting held at Parivallikottai panchayat under Ottapidaram panchayat union. He distributed 650 saplings to the villagers at the function. Ottapidaram MLA Shanmugaiah was present. Mr. Sandeep explained in detail about the Centre’s insurance schemes.
