Thanjavur: The Central government has allotted Rs 2,690 crore for taking up modernisation of Grand Anicut canal in Thanjavur district in the first phase, said R. Duraikannu, state agriculture minister at a review meeting held here on Friday. The amount is to be released through National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) under its rural infrastructure development fund (RIDF).
Modernisation of canals will be taken up in packages and a sum of Rs 14,000 crore would be spent on nearly ten packages, the minister said. However, DMK MLAs Durai Chandraskaran, (Thiruvaiyaru) K.Anbalagan, (Kumbakonam), Kovi.Sezhiyan (Thiruvidaimaruthur) and M.Ramnachandran (Orathanau), who attended the meeting, said that though the amount has been sanctioned, MPs like K. Parasuraman, (Thanjavur), Bharathimohan (Mayiladuthurai) should use their good offices to get it released. Otherwise it will be only on paper, they said.
They also demanded transparency in implementing schemes like Atal Mission for Rejuvanation and Urban Development (AMRUT) and MLAs belonging to opposition should be consulted while deciding on the works.
A.Annadurai, Thanjaur district collector said that besides this modernisation work, 10,000 farm ponds also will be dug for improving water resources in the district.
Agriculture department officials revealed in the meeting that a sum of Rs 25 crore had been allotted as ‘Kuruvai’ package to Thanjavur district. Out of this, Rs 21 crore will be spent by the Agriculture department and remaining by Agriculture engineering department.
