“Last year, we started the work late so we could not finish it before northeast monsoon set in. So we have been instructed to start the work before the monsoon this year. The second phase work will start in April and will be completed in August,” said S Palanisamy, Executive Engineer, WRD. He added that Rs 500 crore has been earmarked for the work, but the allocation is expected to be increased subsequently.

Due to the works taken under the first phase of the scheme, more than 330 lakes in the State now have water up to 80 per cent of their storage, added the official. “In Kancheepuram, 72 lakes have been filled with water after many years. The scheme was welcomed by the farmers, who were struggling when the lakes remained dry for many years. We are happy that farmers are contributing to the success of this project by way of money or materials,” said Palanisamy.

Though the government and farmers used to jointly maintain reservoirs and other waterbodies right from the British period, it was given up about 60 years ago. In 2016, this scheme was initiated, and in three years almost 90 percent of the work has been completed by the officials with the help of farmers, he said.

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