JSA District Action Plan outlined for Tiruchirappalli Tiruchirappalli’s District Action Plan for water conservation, with tentative targets for activities under Jal Shakti Abhiyan (JSA) was outlined during the visit of a central team to the district in Tamil Nadu between 7th and 10th July, 2019. The team comprising 2 block nodal officers and 3 technical officers was led by Central Nodal Officer (CNO), Shri Yashvir Singh. District Action Plan: According to the CNO, specific intervention areas listed under the JSA were discussed with the officers of the various departments concerns before the District Action Plan was made that listed the following structures to be made: Check dams–120, Ponds-62, Trenches-148, rainwater recharge structures-16, water conservation structures- 16, renovation of traditional and other water bodies/tanks-5, soak pits-279, stabilization ponds-96, recharge structures-80, percolation tanks- 838, saplings to be planted-71,000. He said that the targets against some of the structures would be revised after consultation with the departments concerned. While there, the CNO also facilitated the supply of around 2 lakh saplings by the Forest Department at a cost of Rs.20 per sapling. Discussion with district officials: Earlier in the day, the central team met with the District Collector and other officials who informed that the Cauvery River which flows through the district from west to the east was the main source of water for irrigation and other purposes. While water availability in the river was the maximum during the monsoon from September to December every year, the district was dependent on ground water resources during the remaining part of the year. The central team along with the district administration dwelt at length on Jal Shakti Abhiyan and its objectives. They spoke of the water conservation, rainwater harvesting and plantation activities currently being carried out and other plans in the pipeline to meet water needs of the water stressed district. Sites visited: Desilting work in Thoppampatti village of Manapparai Block. Farmers present at the site were asked to raise crops that require less water and adopt water saving techniques aimed at ‘more crop per drop’ Mini percolation pond at Poongudippatti Kulam in Mondipatti village (Manapparai Block) for which the source of water was the roadside rainwater channel Mondipatti concrete check dam at Chinnamuthu Vari, constructed at a cost of Rs.6.02 lakhs in 2018-19 Pannappatti Gabion (boulder) check dam at Periyakulam Vari in Kizhakku Kalam, built in 2017-18 at a cost of Rs. 1.25 lakhs Massive tree planting site and Gabion check dam at Pannankombu, Pannapatti MGNREGA bund site at Musiri block Massive tree planting site at Vaiyampatti Block Drip irrigation site and project Check dam at Thuraiyur block .