Chennai region waterbodies to be monsoon ready by month end

The Water Resources Department is carrying out the scheme at an estimated cost of Rs 68 crore in nine districts. The Chennai region includes Cuddalore, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Tiruvannamalai, Villupuram, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Salem.

A senior official attached to the Chennai Region said, “The works related to maintenance of tanks, sluices, strengthening of bunds and desilting ahead of monsoon. The possible date of completion is mentioned as September 30. If there is a delay, we will take another 15 days to complete the works.”

In 2017-18, the Public Works Department sanctioned a total of 1,511 works at a cost of Rs 328.95 crore across the state. In the previous year, the project was launched on a pilot basis in 30 districts. Under this project, several works will be carried out including the maintenance of supply channels, canals, tanks, shutters and reconstruction of supply weirs and sluices.

The government has appointed seven IAS officers to monitor the participatory water management scheme to boost irrigation in 15 circles of Water Resources Department. The officers will provide advice and solutions to district level officials for a speedy and better performance.

The scheme involves farmers’ organisations, councils, and associations as per the procedures and to ensure that district level officers visit the dam sites and reservoirs.

On the effectiveness of the project, the official said, “The money allocated for the scheme when it was introduced was only Rs 100 crore in 2016-17. But the government has allocated Rs 328.95 crore in the successive year. It is evident that works done during the previous year has been a huge success.”