TN to seek WB aid for delta irrigation

  • 05/10/2008

  • New Indian Express (Chennai)

Tiruchy, THE Tamil Nadu Government will approach the World Bank for a Rs 1,000 crore assistance to strengthen irrigation bunds and flood protection and drainage systems in the delta region, said, S Audiseshiah, principal secretary to the government (PWD), here on Sunday. Addressing the gathering at the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association Silver Jubilee celebrations, Audiseshiah said since the delta region had an old system of irrigation, it needed to be modernised. For this purpose, the State Government had formulated a project and would appeal to the World Bank for assistance. The work would be completed in phases and the report had already been finalised. He declared that some proposals which were under consideration had been cleared and about Rs 250 crore had been sanctioned for protection from flood. He appealed to the farmers to come up with their suggestions, for the consideration of engineers and higher officials. A fund of Rs 10 crore had been allotted per year for the desilting of the channels. Expressing anxiety over the fall in productivity in the delta region as compared to the other areas of the State, Audiseshiah appealed to the farmers to cultivate Semmai nel, which needed less water but gave a good yield. Owing to the good result of the check dam scheme in the Vidarbha region of Gujarat, the Tamil Nadu Government had also introduced the scheme, with success.