ANANTAPUR: Principal Secretary of Irrigation S.P. Tucker has directed the district administration to form a core group consisting of expert engineers including retired ones and non-governmental organisations for restoration of 37 tanks under the Central project.

During a visit to a tank being restored at Hariyancheruvu village in Chennekothapalli mandal in the district on Tuesday along with District Collector Y.V. Anuradha he also directed the irrigation engineers to prepare and send separate project reports to each of the 37 tanks by treating them as special projects.

Longstanding benefits

Both Mr. Tucker and the Collector inspected the tank breached during flash flood two years ago and discussed restoration work with the villagers.

He learnt from the villagers how the tank suffered the breach, about the restoration works taken up so far and what kind of repairs would have long-standing benefits.

The Principal Secretary involved both the villagers and the engineers in the discussion about the restoration works. Villagers Chennama Naidu, Eera Chinnappa and Chandrayudu explained that the tank was initially breached about 80 years ago and its restoration was taken up in 2002 with Rs. 36 lakhs and was completed in 2003.

But, it was again breached in 2003 October.

Bund strengthening

The farmers urged the officials to take up strengthening of the bund, revetment and removal of jungle on the tank bed apart from the breach filling. Mr. Tucker directed the engineers to prepare estimates for the works suggested by the farmers along with the breach filling so that they could be sanctioned immediately.

Mr. Tucker directed the engineers to remove the jungle on the tank bed and take up other minor works with the involvement of the locals under the rural employment guarantee scheme.

Ecology director of RDT Y.V. Malla Reddy, chairman of Timbaktu Collective Babloo Ganguly and others also visited the tank.

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