G.O. (Ms) No. 12, Kudimaramath, Water bodies Restoration with Participatory Approach, 2017

What the government approved

The Government of Tamil Nadu, Public Works (W1) Department, through G.O. (Ms) No. 12 dated 21 January 2017, approved Kudimaramath, Water bodies Restoration with Participatory Approach, as a pilot project for 2016-17. Administrative sanction of Rs. 100 crore was granted for implementation under the approved procedures and conditions.

The project applies to tanks, their associated structures, supply channels and canals under the control of the Water Resources Department. Tanks and canals are to be selected on a priority basis.

Who may be involved

The Kudimaramath procedures provide for participation by:

• Water Users' Associations formed for irrigation areas.
• Distributory Committees and Project Committees.
• Farmers' Councils registered under the Tamil Nadu Societies Registration Act, 1975 and functioning through agreements with the Water Resources Department.
• Ayacutdars and user associations.

Minor works assigned through nomination must be given only to a farmers' organisation, farmers' council, ayacutdars or user association. Department engineers provide technical guidance, and procedures applicable to contractors also apply to nominated contractors.

Works covered

The approved project divides proposed restoration into minor and major works.

Minor works include:

• Removing weeds, prickly pear and scrub from tanks, supply channels and canals.
• Maintaining bunds and clearing deposits from channels, canals and tank sluices.
• Filling gullies and other uneven areas on bunds.
• Repairing sluices, shutters, surplus weirs and cross masonry structures, including replacing shutters.

Major works include reconstructing sluices, surplus weirs and cross masonry structures, and strengthening and standardising bunds.

Separate estimates must be prepared for minor and major works for each farmers' organisation, farmers' council area or equivalent hydraulic area. Minor works valued at not more than Rs. 10 lakh may be executed on a nomination basis at estimated rates.

Administration and monitoring

A Project Implementation and Monitoring Committee selects priority tanks and canals and monitors implementation. The Chief Engineer, Water Resources Department, Design, Research and Construction Support is the nodal officer responsible for processing estimates for administrative sanction.

Regional Chief Engineers must submit monthly progress reports to the Government and the nodal officer on the fifth day of the following month. G.O. (Ms) No. 12 concerns restoration works and participation procedures. It does not state that it changes land ownership or property title.