G.O.(Ms).No.12, Relaxation of THAI-II Minor Irrigation Tank Guidelines, 2017
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (SGS-1) Department issued G.O.(Ms).No.12 on January 25, 2017, relaxing one eligibility condition under the Tamil Nadu Village Habitations Improvements Scheme-II for 2016-2017. Larger minor irrigation tanks may be taken up based on their extent and ayacut even if they received works under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the previous two years, but tanks taken up under that scheme in the current year remain excluded.
What the document changes
G.O.(Ms).No.12, issued by the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (SGS-1) Department on January 25, 2017, relaxes part of the guidelines issued for the Tamil Nadu Village Habitations Improvements Scheme-II for 2016-2017.
The earlier guidelines excluded minor irrigation tanks that had been taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme during the previous two years or the current year, whether those works were completed or ongoing. The relaxation narrows that exclusion.
Under the revised position:
- Larger minor irrigation tanks may be selected based on their extent and ayacut.
- Tanks that received Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme works in the previous two years are no longer automatically excluded.
- Minor irrigation tanks taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the current year remain ineligible.
Why the restriction was relaxed
The Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (SGS-1) Department recorded concerns raised through the Director of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj following representations from the District Collectors of Villupuram, Pudukottai, Krishnagiri and Vellore.
The reported difficulties included:
- Manual desilting had not achieved the required depth, area or water storage capacity.
- Hard, rocky or heavily overgrown parts of tanks could not be adequately treated manually.
- Inlet sluices, surplus weirs and bund strengthening had not been covered where machinery was required.
- Limited desilting in only part of a tank could cause water to stagnate in a particular area.
The relaxation is intended to restore tanks to fuller capacity, improve groundwater recharge, reduce surplus runoff and breaches, and regulate water storage for drinking and agricultural use.
Who may be affected
G.O.(Ms).No.12 primarily affects District Collectors, District Rural Development Agencies and officials selecting and implementing minor irrigation tank works under the Tamil Nadu Village Habitations Improvements Scheme-II.
Residents, farmers and ayacut areas served by larger minor irrigation tanks may be affected where a tank becomes eligible for restoration under the scheme. The document concerns eligibility for public tank improvement works. It does not set out any change to private land ownership, title registration or individual property boundaries.
Scheme context
The earlier government approval sanctioned Rs.750 Crore for the Tamil Nadu Village Habitations Improvements Scheme-II for 2016-2017. Its two components were improvement of minor irrigation tanks, and provision of basic infrastructure and amenities.
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Common questions
Can a tank worked on under the employment guarantee scheme in the previous two years now receive THAI-II work?
Yes. Larger minor irrigation tanks may be considered based on their extent and ayacut even if they were taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the previous two years.
Can a minor irrigation tank receive both scheme works in the current year?
No. A minor irrigation tank taken up under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme in the current year remains excluded from the Tamil Nadu Village Habitations Improvements Scheme-II.
Does G.O.(Ms).No.12 change my land title or property boundary?
The document addresses selection of minor irrigation tanks for scheme works. It does not set out changes to private land ownership, title registration or property boundaries.
Why were larger minor irrigation tanks made eligible?
The government recorded that manual works had not always achieved the required depth, coverage or storage capacity. The relaxation was intended to support fuller restoration, groundwater recharge, safer water storage and agricultural and drinking water needs.
