Source : The Hindu Date : 16.06.2009
Aid to install rainwater harvesting systems for farm wells
Special Correspondent
VILLUPURAM: The State government has launched a scheme to recharge open farm wells by installing rainwater harvesting systems. To encourage farmers to do so the government is giving grants, according to R.Palanisamy, District Collector.
Reviewing the implementation of the scheme, Mr. Palanisamy said there were 1,34,565 open farm-wells in the district. Of these, only 40 per cent of the farmers had sought the grant.
The government was giving a grant of Rs. 4,000 to small and marginal farmers and Rs 2,000 to other farmers to set up tanks in the wells for rainwater collection.
Under the scheme a sum of Rs 11.73 crore had been disbursed for construction of such structures in 27,149 open farm wells. Another 28,089 applications were under process. The Collector said those farmers who had obtained financial assistance should put in place the rain-water harvesting system within three months, failing which the amount would be recovered from them with interest.
