VELLORE: Local NGOs have welcomed the move of the state government - describing it as ‘path breaking - to launch a project to restore water bodies across the state. According to media reports, the state government would be undertaking a project to restore around 70,000 water bodies comprising some 21,000 minor irrigation tanks, 48,000 ponds and springs, soon. The project targets to restore around 1,487 water bodies in Vellore and 3,277 in Tiruvannamalai districts, in particular.A plea to the state government, on the need for a restoration project, had emanated from here last year, when the Chennai-based Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) led by Prof. Janakarajan, along with a group of NGOs from across the state, had organised a special meet which focused on revival of tanks and water bodies and strict enforcement of laws to protect the water bodies.Terming the move of the state government as a ‘first of its kind’, Janakarajan pointed out that a survey of all water bodies, village-wise and block-wise, has to be undertaken before restoring the water bodies to their original capacity. These tanks in Tamil Nadu provided irrigation to over 1.7 million hectares in the 1950s. Most of these structures still exist but the area irrigated by these sources has come down drastically to 0.7 million hectares as on 2002. Tanks are traditional rain-water harvesting structures as visualised and practised by our ancient rulers which not only provide irrigation, but also act as a buffer during droughts as they help recharge groundwater. Sadly, hundreds of tanks, foreshore areas and their catchments have been encroached upon by private individuals while many others have been occupied officially for various urban activities such as housing, industrial estate, government buildings, etc. At the present pace of industrialisation and urbanisation in the state, most of the tanks may disappear in the next couple of decades. While Janakarajan was not sure if utilisation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme for the restoration work proposed by the state government would be effective at this point, he said mini tanks could be formed within the parent tanks to increase the water holding capacity. Environmental activist M M Basheer of Vaniyambadi welcomed the government’s move to restore the water bodies, but wanted rivers to be included as well, as tanks had a direct bearing on river systems. Citing the pathetic case of the Palar river which he said is on the verge of dying due to lack of surface water, illegal encroachments, and unabated sand mining, he wanted the state government to present a white paper on the status of all rivers in the state.
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