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Project to revive tanks reviewed

Special Correspondent

Puducherry: Chief Secretary Pradip Mehra, who is also chairman of the Steering Committee for the Tank Rehabilitation Project of Puducherry (TRPP), reviewed the progress made under the project at its 10th meeting here recently.

A release from the Public Works Department said that the meeting approved the Action Taken Report (ATR) of the 9th meeting and the 8th annual work plan ending March 31, 2008.

Secretaries of various departments and Directors and Deputy Conservator of Forests and Executive Engineers of PWD participated in the interaction session held as part of the review meeting.

Project Director S. Manohar gave a power point presentation on progress of the project.

The Chief Secretary handed over four "Corpus Funds Certificates" to presidents of Third Batch of Tank Associations. A number NGOs, community organisations, presidents of Tank and Sluice Associations, Cluster of Tank Associations and Puducherry Water Resources Federation shared their experiences. Chief Engineer of the PWD R. Pitchumani also spoke.

Massive rehabilitation drive was launched in collaboration with Tank Associations here. The TRPP was executed through a bilateral agreement finalised between Centre and European Commission (EC) from September 1988 to December 2004. The participation of EC came to an end in December 2004 and considering the importance of the TRPP programmes, the Union Territory extended the operation of the project up to March 2008.

The objectives of the TRPP are to stabilise the existing ayacut of 6,450 hectares, restoration of agricultural income from irrigated crop production, diminish reliance on ground water resources and prevent salt water ingress into sub-soil water aquifer. NGOs were involved in the tasks and 85 tank or sluices associations were formed. Among other things the TRPP was aimed at desilting of tanks, feeder canals, repairing sluices. Secretary to PWD A. Anbarasu welcomed.

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