Rs 30.3 crore for Phase II of desilting works in Madurai, says Collector

The Collector along with PWD officials inspected the desilting works undertaken in couple of waterbodies in Melur taluk. Initially, the officials visited Vijayarajan pond at Kambur, which falls under Periyar basin and inspected the kudimaramath works undertaken in the waterbody. 

The Collector was briefed about the works undertaken in the waterbody, the amount spent on it, the total water holding capacity and the number of hectares that are benefited out of the waterbody. The Collector also interacted with the local farmers and heard their grievances. 

Later, he met the media and said that under kudimaramath works bund strengthening and supply channel desilting are taken up on a priority basis. In the first phase, the works had been undertaken at 72 water bodies at a cost of Rs 5.85 crores.  

The alluvial soil from the water bodies was distributed for free to the farmers. Nearly, 30 loads per acre for dry land farming and 25 loads per acre of wet land farming were allowed for a farmer. 

Apart from that 10 loads for construction purpose and 20 loads for pottery manufacturing were also allowed. As far as Vijayarajan pond is concerned, the bund had been strengthened for a distance of 800 metres and channel desilting works had been carried out at a cost of Rs 9 lakh. The spread of the pond was 16.1 hectares and its ayacut area was 31.38 hectares. 

Following the inspection at Vijayarajan pond officials moved to Periyakulam waterbody in Sekkipatti in Melur Taluk, where the kudimaramath works had been completed under the first phase.  

As the first phase of the community desilting works was nearing completion, the second phase would commence soon, the Collector said and added, “Nearly 190 water bodies throughout the district have been chosen for the second phase and a fund of Rs 30.3 crores has been allotted.”

Farmers unaware of free alluvial soil

Though the district administration had announced free distribution of alluvial soil from the waterbodies during the kudimaramath works, the farmers remained unaware of the process and blamed the officials for not informing them properly.

When the Madurai Collector K Veera Raghava Rao was inspecting the kudimaramath works in Melur, the farmers approached him and said that they were not informed about the supply of free alluvial soil. 

The Collector immediately asked the officials why they had not informed the farmers and issued spot orders for them to collect the same. He asked the farmers to fill the form and submit it to Revenue Inspector and to get immediate orders for taking the alluvial soil for free. He also directed the RI to be present at the VAO office for two days and to give passes for the farmers. 

The Collector then shared his mobile number with the farmers and asked them to contact him immediately if the officials failed to issue the relevant orders to collect the soil within two days. He further assured them of strict action against erring officials. 

Stating that he had informed the officials and farmers about the free supply of alluvial soil at various meetings and jamabandhis, the Collector asked the farmers not to pay for the soil. If need be, they may pay rent for the JCB operations alone, he clarified. 

The Collector stressed that the desilting works on waterbodies were being carried out to supply the fertile alluvial soil to farmers. A farmer, Yoganandham said that the alluvial soil from the waterbodies would enrich their land and the yield would be good if used. “It our luck that the Collector visited the desilting work and issued the necessary orders to take the soil, otherwise we would not have got it at all,” he added.