Tamil Nadu Sanctions ₹500 Crore For Irrigation Tank Rejuvenation

September 11, 2024

The Tamil Nadu government has approved ₹500 crore to rejuvenate 5,000 minor irrigation tanks in rural areas. This project is aimed at improving water storage and managing local water resources, especially for agriculture.

The project will receive ₹250 crore from the State Budget and an additional ₹250 crore as a grant from the State Finance Commission. This funding is managed by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.

What is the Current Situation?

Tamil Nadu has around 22,051 minor irrigation tanks and 69,777 ponds or ooranis (traditional water storage systems). The panchayat unions (local government bodies) manage the minor irrigation tanks, while village panchayats look after the ponds and ooranis.

What does the Project Involve?

The project will focus on:

Desilting and deepening the water areas of these tanks to increase their capacity.
Repairing or rebuilding the bunds (the raised banks that hold the water in the tanks).
Clearing supply channels to ensure water flows properly into the tanks.

The aim is to restore the tanks to their original condition and improve the local water table (underground water level).

A district-level committee, led by the District Collector, will review and approve the plans. This ensures that local authorities are involved in the project and that the work is done according to community needs.

What are the Goals of the Project?

The main objective is to improve water storage, especially for households and farmers, so they can better manage their water needs. This project will help regulate the use of local water resources and ensure water is available when needed.

To encourage local involvement, 10% of the project’s costs will be covered by the local community, including public/user associations or ayacutdars (farmers who rely on the tank’s water for irrigation).

In March 2023, 360 out of 1,166 firkas (small administrative units) in Tamil Nadu were found to be “over-exploited,” meaning that the demand for groundwater is very high. The rejuvenation of these tanks is needed to help reduce pressure on groundwater resources and prevent further depletion.

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