Chennai: Facing unprecedented drought in more than 100 years, the Tamil Nadu Government on Monday revived kudimaramathu, a traditional water resource management system, involving public.
Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palanisami launched the Rs 100 crore project at Manimangalam in neighbouring Kancheepuram district. Kudimaramathu is a practise where people contribute a percentage of capital or physical labour in managing water resources and this was in vogue a long time ago.
The state government, as part of its strategy to face the unprecedented drought and a looming water crisis in Tamil Nadu following deficient monsoon, had earlier decided to revive this system.
As part of efforts to ensure work to the farm labourers who have been rendered jobless due to drought, the state government has decided to take up works like removal of weeds from canals, maintenance of lakes and strengthening of various infrastructure during the current fiscal.
The government also has plans to expand the scheme with assistance from National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabarad) assistance to desilt lakes and strengthen various water-related infrastructure, it said.
Mr Palanisami said the focus of kudimaramathu was rejuvenating groundwater resources through various measures, which would ultimately benefit farming and
farmers.
