Top IAS officers to monitor water bodies' restoration

Chennai: Keen on ensuring that the monsoon falls do not go waste and every drop of water is put to best use, Tamil Nadu Government has appointed seven senior IAS officers, known for their sharp intellect and hard work, to monitor the implementation of the ‘Kudimaramath’ works for the restoration of water bodies with the active participation of the local farmers and the public across the state.

The Government had in its order No.12 of January 21 last year sanctioned Rs 100 crore for the implementation of the ‘Kudimaramath-water bodies’ restoration with participatory approach’ on pilot basis for the year 2016-17. In the G.O. 142 of May 25 this year, the government had granted Rs 328.95 crore to take up 1511 Kudimaramath works formulated by the Water Resources Department.

Further, the state chief secretary had issued instructions to all the district collectors to ensure the farmers’ participation when Kudimaramath works are taken up in the 15 circles of the Water Resources Department in the various districts. Now this appointment of the seven senior bureaucrats to monitor the work only reiterates the state’s commitment towards optimum use of available water through Kudimaramath.

While Gagandeep Singh Bedi has been named in-charge of Pennaiyar Basin Circle (Dharmapuri, Tiruvannamalai and part of Villupuram) and Vellar Basin Circle (Cuddalore), Ms P. Amudha will monitor the Project Circle (Vellore part), the Palar Basin Circle (Kancheepuram, Tiruvannamalai part and Tiruvallur) and Tank Modernisation Circle (Vellore part). Pankaj Kumar Bansali is in charge of Periyar Vaigai Basin Circle (Madurai, Theni, part of Dindigul, part of Sivaganga) and Lower Vaigai Basin Circle (Sivagangai-part, Ramanathapuram) and Rajendra Ratnoo will monitor Vaippar Basin Circle (Madurai, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli-part, Thoothukudi-part), and Thambiraparanai Basin Circle (Tirunelveli-part, Thoothukudi-part, Kanyakumari).

While Ashish Vachhani will monitor Upper Cauvery Basin (Namakkal, Salem, Erode-part) and Special Project Circle (Karur-part, Tiruppur-part, Perambalur, Pudukottai-part), Dr Darez Ahamed is in charge of Middle Cauvery Basin Circle (Trichy, Karur-part, Ariyalur, Thanjavur-part, Perambalur, Pudukottai-part), and Lower Cauvery Basin Circle (Thanjavur-part, Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Pudukottai-part), and Dr K. Gopal will monitor Bhavani Basin Circle (Erode-part, Karur-part, Tiruppur-part, Coimbatore-part) and Parambikulam Aliyar Basin Circle (Tiruppur-part, Coimbatore-part).