The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : PWD to hold elections to water users’ associations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 07, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

PWD to hold elections to water users’ associations

T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI: The Public Works Department plans to hold elections to 2,500 water users’ associations (WUA) in two months.

The elections have been proposed under the World Bank-assisted Irrigated Agriculture Modernisation and Water Bodies Restoration and Management (IAMWARM) scheme. The elected office-bearers will take care of maintenance works in their respective areas, according to a senior official.

At present, the spadework is being undertaken for forming the WUAs. Once all issues regarding the formation of the association were sorted out, the Executive Engineers, in-charge of the respective divisions, will carry out the polling process.

The Government is also contemplating providing financial assistance to the WUAs in the inaugural year. From the second year, members of the associations will have to mop up resources.

As the department had the experience of observing the working of the duly-elected 1,546 WUAs when the Water Resources Consolidation Project was implemented, the official visualises a scenario wherein not all the associations will be able to sustain themselves.

In fact, under the WRCP, the authorities had to face several hurdles for even holding the polls. Conscious of all such aspects, the authorities are examining different options to address this aspect.

Besides, support groups will be formed and the WUAs will function under their guidance.

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