PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT IRRIGATION Demand No: 40 POLICY NOTE 2011 -2012 K.V.RAMALINGAM MINISTER FOR PUBLIC WORKS © Government of Tamil Nadu 2011 INDEX 11 Flood Mitigation Schemes 77 12 Tamil Nadu Irrigated 82 Sl. Subject Page Agriculture Modernisation and No. Water - Bodies Restoration 1 Water Resources Department 1 and Management (TN IAMWARM) Project 2 Special Initiative Schemes of 4 13 Jawaharlal Nehru National 86 the Hon’ble Chief Minister Urban Renewal Mission. (JNNURM) 3 Inter State River Water Issues 11 14 Artificial Recharge Scheme 89 4 Construction of Groyne field 39 along Puduchery Coast 15 Participatory Irrigation 91 Management (PIM) 5 Draft Dam Safety Bill, 2010 41 16 Linking of Rivers within the 94 6 Dam Rehabilitation and 48 State Improvement Project (DRIP) 17 Repairs, Renovation and 98 th 7 13 Finance Commission 51 Restoration of Water Bodies in Grants-in-Aid Programme the 51 Drought Prone Blocks in Tamil Nadu 8 Irrigation Schemes 58 18 Irrigation Management 98 9 National Agriculture 69 Training Institute (IMTI) Development Programme Under Centrally Sponsored 19 State Ground and Surface 100 Scheme Water Resources Data Centre 10 Part – II Schemes 69 20 Institute for Water Studies 103 21 Directorate of Boilers 107 22 Providing last mile 110 connectivity through wide area network connections to Water Resources Department. PREFACE The necessity for intra-linking of rivers for diversion of flood water and Public Works Department is one of enhancing the storage capacity of water the oldest Service Departments of the bodies to provide adequate water for Government, serving in the construction irrigation, drinking and other purposes field and maintenance of Irrigation have been well taken. The Department is Structures for the past 153 years. taking all efforts for better service delivery Many dams stand as a testimony to with this long term vision. our engineering skill. The organization marches towards better service delivery to the people by adopting to the present day trend of e-governance . The concept of artificial recharge, better water management, restoration of water bodies, water users participation in the projects to derive maximum benefit is well understood. The department is working very hard to realise maximum irrigation efficiency. 1. WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT Resources Department functions on river basin framework. The State has been sub-divided into four Regions, each headed 1.1. Introduction by a Chief Engineer, located in Chennai, Trichy, Madurai and Coimbatore. These Improving and sustaining the precious Chief Engineers are the Basin Managers for water resources is the main objective of the the defined basin boundaries in their Water Resources Department. The Water jurisdiction. Apart from this, three Chief Resources Department of Tamil Nadu is Engineers stationed in Chennai are carrying responsible for planning, developing and out specialized functions and they are managing the State’s water resources for designated as Plan Formulation; Operation irrigation, maintenance, impounding and and Maintenance; Design, Research and regulation, flood control and diversion, Construction Support. Further the Institute drainage, coastal protection, regulation of for Water Studies and State Ground and ground and surface water and interlinking of Surface Water Resources Data Centre are rivers. headed by two Chief Engineers at Chennai. The Engineer-in-Chief, Water Resources Department, Public Works Department Tamil Nadu has a long history of creation coordinates the functions of these nine and maintenance of irrigation structures Chief Engineers and acts as the Technical dating back to first century A.D. The most Head of this Department. famous irrigation structure ‘Grand Anicut’ built by Chola Rulers which is still functioning is an example. The vast network 1.3. Irrigation Systems and Status of irrigation systems created so far has made it possible for agricultural There are 34 river basins in the State which development of the nation. have been grouped into 17 major river basins and 127 sub-basins. The average 1.2. The Public Works Department is divided into rainfall of the State is 911.60 mm. two wings viz., the Water Resources The total surface water potential of the Department and the Buildings Organisation State has been estimated as 853 T.M.C.ft. (Public Works Department). The Water which includes 261 T.M.C.ft. contributed by 1 2 the neighbouring States and this has been done only through continuous monitoring fully harnessed. There are 75 large and effective intervention. In this direction, and 7 small dams in the State with efforts are being taken to maintain the a combined storage capacity of quality of ground water. Also by the 233.20 T.M.C.ft. Further, there are constructions of Artificial Recharge 39,202 tanks in the State, out of which Structures, effective ground water recharge 13,699 tanks are under the control of the is accomplished. Water Resources Department. 2. SPECIAL INITIATIVE SCHEMES OF The Government have taken initiatives to THE HON’BLE CHIEF MINISTER improve the water use efficiency by means of modernisation of irrigation systems, improved service delivery, participation of 2.1. Intra Linking of Cauvery with Agniar, South Vellar, Pambar, Manimuthar, farmers, canal automation, water use efficiency and performance evaluation Kottakaraiyar, Vaigai and Gundar studies, building the capacity of Water (i) Excavation of new link canal Resources Department officials and farmers. from Kattalai Barrage to Manimuthar river 1.4. Ground Water Resources Estimate amount Rs.3787 crore The ground water potential of the State has (ii) Excavation of new link ca nal been assessed as 754 T.M.C.ft. It is from Manimuthar river to estimated that out of this total available Gundar resources in the State, 85% has been developed for utilisation. Among the total Estimate amount Rs.1379 crore 386 blocks in the State, 139 have been classified as over-exploited, 33 as critical, The capacity of the proposed canals are 6300 cusecs. By implementing the scheme, 67 as semi-critical and 11 as saline. The remaining 136 blocks are considered safe. the flood water will be diverted to the tanks in the Districts Pudukottai, Sivagangai, Therefore, it is necessary to curtail over Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar. This exploitation of ground water which can be 3 4 will be benefitted during South West The Scheme involves the following Monsoon period through the Anicuts already components. in existence. It is also proposed to divert the flood flows in the tributaries of Cauvery 1. The entire Buckingham Canal is namely Ariyar and Koraiyar (through which to be desilted. the proposed canal passes) to avoid 2. The Drainage culverts are to be inundation due to flood in Trichy Town. modified. Hence the proposal for “Connecting Koraiyar 3. The approach road and boat and Agniyar River to divert the flood surplus jetty are to be created. of Koraiyar river to prevent inundation of 4. Creek area to be desilted Trichy City” is proposed to be taken up. The besides acquisition of patta land . Government of Tamil Nadu will take up detailed investigation and the scheme will Once the project is completed, the be posed to Government of India for waterway will become an economical and financial assistance under Flood popular mode of transport for commercial Management Programme. goods, passenger movement and tourism development. 2.2. Inland Water Ways For this scheme, 90% Central assistance Out of the five Inland Waterways notified has been sought for. The estimate cost of by the Government of India, the stretch of the project is Rs.650 crore. The 132 Kms between Pulicat lake to Government of Tamil Nadu would undertake Puducherry falls in Tamil Nadu. The detailed investigation and make all Government proposes to make it a necessary efforts to carry out the scheme. navigable waterway with the help of Government of India. 5 6 2.3. Construction of Check Dam recommendation, detailed investigation is in Across River Cauvery near progress. Kambarasampettai Village in Srirangam Taluk of Trichy District. The carrying capacity of the canal is 2000 cusecs. The total quantity of water to Construction of a check dam across river be diverted during 20 days surplus is Cauvery at upstream of Kambarasampettai 2 T.M.C.ft. and the water will be diverted village in Srirangam Taluk of Trichy District only when the Bhavanisagar dam surpluses. to benefit Combined Water Supply Scheme for Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai The total length of the canal is 129.765 km. Districts. The salient engineering features in the proposal include 10 nos. of siphon By implementing this scheme, ground water aqueducts, 2 nos. of super passages and will be recharged in the Cauvery bed and 6 nos. of under tunnels for a length of the surrounding areas. It is proposed to 3700 m. give assured water supply for Combined Water Supply Scheme for Ramanathapuram The details of canals are: and Sivagangai Districts. Administrative Sanction has been accorded for an amount Main canal of Rs.32 crore for implementation under NABARD assistance. Length of canal 35.20 Km Number of tanks 6 2.4. Athikadavu-Avinashi Canal Scheme benefitted Number of ponds 20 This scheme envisages for diversion of flood benefitted surplus of Bhavani River to feed 71 tanks and 538 ponds. A Technical Expert Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Prof. Dr.A.Mohanakrishnan, Advisor to Government (WR) to investigate viability of the scheme and based on his 7 8 Avinashi Branch Canal Accordingly, water is to be released from Kandaleru Reservoir to Poondi Reservoir Length of canal 21.65 Km every year for Chennai City Water Supply. Number of tanks 3 benefitted A total quantity of 53.735 T.M.C.ft. of water Number of ponds 94 has been received since its inception in benefitted 1996. During last year, a quantity of 4.661 T.M.C.ft.