Unable to see eye-to-eye

Three months after Chief Minister Edappadi K Palanisamy announced  the Kudimaramath scheme to improve water resources, farmers and villagers across the state, allege that there is no transparency in the way the Public Works Department (Water Resources Department) works and local farmers find the going difficult.

Farmers associations’ representatives allege that even in many districts, the officials have not formed water users committee under the scheme. Many farmers associations say they are unwilling to come forward to take up works, alleging involvement of local politicians and officials’ hidden agenda. 

Sources in the know allege that the officials are working hand in glove with local politicians and they take up works on their own without consulting local farmers. Shockingly, some farmers associations’ representatives said that the PWD officials have taken up only one single work in many districts and that there is no clear information about the funds for works. 

Swamimalai Vimalnathan, district secretary, Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, Thanjavur, said, “We are not informed about works that are being undertaken by officials. In our area, the officials have undertaken desilting channels in a waterbody. Since we are not consulted about the works, our local people do not participate in the works.” 

The scheme is nothing but old wine in a new bottle, he added. Many farmers also demand that officials remove any encroachment before taking up any waterbody related works. “The PWD officials should bring surveyors to measure the channels to remove encroachment. However, the officials fail to do so,” Vimalnathan said. 

Neelakandan, district secretary of Thamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam, Perambalur said, “PWD should conduct an election to select members for water users’ association. After announcement of Kudimaramath, the PWD officials have undertaken works only like removing Karuvelam trees in our areas.” 

Though Perambalur district has around 60 tanks, the officials have not taken a single work under Kudimaramath scheme, he added. However, farmers in some areas say that the PWD officials are gradually implementing the scheme. 

Mahathanapuram V Rajaram, working president, Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association (Karur district), said that the PWD officials along with district administration, have been undertaking desilting works in Karur. 

The officials should continuously monitor the works, he felt. Since this scheme is earmarked only for tanks and lakes coming under PWD (WRD), farmers and villagers living under Panchayat unions demand such scheme should be extended to many small tanks and ponds that belong to unions. 

When contacted, M Bhakthavachalam, Engineering-in- Chief (Water Resources Department), Chennai, said, “Such a scheme is a boon for local people and waterbodies. Since waterbodies will be handed over to the local people, we hope that they would be willing to protect the tanks by taking up necessary works.” When asked about non-cooperation between local people and PWD officials, he quipped that farmers are cooperating.

Before the British era, landowners in each village maintained waterbodies and channels. They took up works like desilting channels and tanks and they appointed a person, who would irrigate only those fields in dire need. However, this was changed after the British rule, which took all the waterbodies under its control and it formed a committee called the Public Works Department (Water Resources Organisation). The British rulers even collected tax from the landowners. As years passed, the system faded into oblivion. Now, the government has somewhat modified and revived it.