Farmers, potters allowed to take alluvial soil for free

Despite coronavirus lockdown, the state has allowed all agricultural activities and now the farmers located in rural areas barring Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram can take the topsoil.

To deepen water bodies, the state has taken kudimaramathu scheme and the sand accumulated in the tests tanks can now be harvested by the farmers and potters. All types of soil — clay, clayey silt, silt, gravel silt can be taken by the villagers after obtaining due permission from the of Public Works Department authorities, the CM said.

According to PWD sources, the farmers use the alluvial soil to enrich the nutrient value of agricultural land and the soil is also used to strengthen the water flow channels in farm lands. Farmers should apply to authorities concerned to take the soil. Last year, farmers were allowed to take 90 cubic meters (30 tractor loads) of soil per acre of dry land, 75 cubic meters (25 tractor loads) per acre of wetland. The general public would be allowed to take 30 cubic meters (10 tractor loads) and potters would be allowed to take 60 cubic meters (20 tractor loads). Mostly, the same guidelines will be followed, but the local Collectors will fine-tune the norms as per the sand availability in water bodies, sources said.

Permission would be given to lift the soil within a week after applying. For the current fiscal 2020–2021, the state had sanctioned 1,364 kudimaramath works at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore, PWD sources added.