As many as 1,828 works, aimed at restoration of waterbodies with the participation of people, will be taken up this year at a cost of around ₹500 crore.
Called ‘kudimaramathu,’ the concept is being implemented for the last two years.
As many as 29 districts will be covered, according to an order of the Public Works Department (PWD) on Tuesday. A fresh set of guidelines was also issued by the department.
The works include repairing, rehabilitating and strengthening waterbodies, supply channels/canals, sluices and surplus weirs.
The need for the guidelines arose in the light of observations made by monitoring officers who visited various districts.
At the field level, the officers felt that there was lack of clarity among officials in the execution of works.
This was why the revised guidelines had to be furnished, says a senior official.
Engineers of the PWD have been advised to co-ordinate with the public and farmers regarding the implementation of the works. If manufactured sand is used, it has to be procured from units authorised by the PWD. Works on sluices and weirs would have to be programmed in such a manner that their execution would take place before the onset of northeast monsoon, according to the guidelines.
In the inaugural year (2016-17), a sum of ₹100 crore was set apart for around 1,500 works and the next year, around ₹330 crore for a similar amount of works.
