TN to complete Rs 2,547-cr IAMWARM project by 2010

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Tamil Nadu has embarked on the Rs 2,547-crore World Bank-aided irrigated agriculture modernisation and water bodies restoration and management (IAMWARM) project and it is expected to be completed by 2010.

The project covers 6.17 lakh hectares spread over 63 sub-basins. There are in all 127 sub-basins in the state. In the first year, 2007-08, nine sub-basins covering 2.94 lakh hectares at an investment of Rs 714.94 crore were taken up, according to the public works minister Durai Murugan. In 2008-09, 16 more sub-basins spread over 80,000 hectares would be taken up with an outlay of Rs 585 crore. The balance 38 sub-basins would be taken up in 2009-10.

``The project aims to improve the service delivery of irrigation systems and productivity of irrigated agriculture with effective integrated water resources management in a sub-basin framework'', the minister said in the Policy Note of his Department tabled in the Assembly on Thursday.

The project has four specific components and seven departments are involved in its implementation. The five components are: Irrigation systems modernisation in a sub-basin frame work, agricultural intensification and diversification, institutional modernisation for irrigated agriculture, and water resource mangement.

Water resources department, agriculture department, horticulture department, Tamil Nadu Agriculture University, agriculture marketing, animal husbandry department and fisheries department are agencies responsible for its implementation.

Task force on Cauvery delta modernisation

Tamil Nadu government has set up a task force, headed by well-known irrigation expert A Mohanakrishnan, for modernising Cauvery delta irrigation system. The force is expected to submit its report before July. The government has also initiated a `performance evaluation study' of some of the major irrigation projects in the state to increase water use efficieny to 60% from the present 40-45%. To begin with, the study would be in Cauvery delta, Vaigai and Tamiraparani irrigation schemes, Public Works minister Durai Murugan said in the Assembly on Thursday.

In his reply to the debate on the demand for grants for his department, the minister said, that major irrigation systems in the Cauvery delta like Lower Coleroon needed extensive improvements of infrastructure and modernisation of existing irrigation structures for optimum utilisation of Cauvery waters.

Though modernisation was long overdue, it could not be taken up as Karnataka opposed the move on the plea that the Cauvery water dispute was pending.