CHENNAI: State Water Resources Department (WRD) has been honoured with a national award for its efficient water management.

The department received the “Excellence in Integrated Water Resources Management, 2024” award from the Union government’s Central Board of Irrigation and Power for its implementation of the World Bank-funded Tamil Nadu Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation Project (TNIAMP). This recognition highlights TNIAMP’s significant contributions to water management and agriculture, setting a benchmark for the State’s future projects, according to a government statement.

Launched in 2017, the project focuses on improving the productivity and climate resilience of irrigated agriculture across 47 river sub-basin areas in the State. It has successfully rehabilitated 2,626 tanks, 355 check dams, and 5,026 km of supply channels. Additionally, 94 artificial recharge wells have been constructed, and 117,290 hectares of farmland have been developed.

TNIAMP uses a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with seven departments and 3 State universities.