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The Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association has appealed to the State government to implement five projects in the State to ensure better water conservation and improve irrigation facility. In a memorandum to Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, working president of the association Mahadhanapuram V.Rajaram lamented that water scenario in the State is topsy-turvy with virtual starvation for rains a couple of weeks ago to incessant downpour that has deluged the fields in the past few days. “We are not able to conserve even a week’s rain water.”

“Have we ever thought of a storage system that could pump rain water to a higher plane and distribute it for irrigation?”

He pleaded that the State government should implement on a “war-footing” the following five schemes to ensure better irrigation:

As a first step, Pennayar (Krishnagiri Reservoir Project) should be linked to Palar which could help divert 3.5 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from the project when it gets huge inflows during floods at Kallar, a tributary of Palar. This would benefit 2,931 acres and the project would cost Rs.253 crore.

Second, the Pennayar (Sathanur reservoir) should be linked to the Palar. This would help divert the surplus of the Sathanur reservoir, about three tmcft, to the Cheyyar. A 38-km long supply channel should be created to take this water to the Nandan canal. This scheme would benefit more than 10,000 acres and would cost Rs.200 crore.

Mr.Rajaram also reminded the government of the scheme that would link the Cauvery (Mettur Dam) with the Sarabanga in Namakkal district. The project, estimated at Rs.1, 134 crore, would benefit 30,400 acres in Salem, Namakkal, Peramablaur, and Tiruchi districts.

Another scheme based on Cauvery would be to link Kattalai barrage with Gundar by laying 258- km-long channel. This would help divert seven tmcft of flood water from Kattalai barrage to Gundar to benefit 32,871 acres. The project would cost Rs.5, 166 crore.

He pointed out that already the government had estimated that Athikadavu-Avinashi scheme would cost Rs.1, 862 crore. Quoting the Chief Minister, he said that all dams across Cauvery in Karnataka had been constructed without the consent of the Central

government . Similarly, without waiting for the permission and funding from the Centre , Tamil Nadu should take up these schemes with its own funds to meet the State’s water requirements. Besides, in order to save the delta region from the monsoon fury, he suggested that flood water should be pumped to a higher plane, several kilometres away, to fill up a number of tanks. Once the rains stop, this water could be used either for irrigation or drinking purpose

9.4 SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION

Introduction

Land and water are the most precious natural resources, the

importance of which in human civilization needs no elaboration. The total

available land area in the State sets the limits within which the competing

human needs have to be met. The needs of agricultural, industrial, domestic

and others often result in diversion from one use to the other. Diversion of

land from agriculture to non-agriculture uses adversely affects the growth in

agriculture sector. Even the available land is subjected to soil-erosion of

varying degrees and degradation problems of different magnitudes. Water

supports all forms of life on this mother earth. It plays a vital role in agricultural

and industrial development and sustaining human life. Rainfall is the only

source of water. The water is confined as i) soil moisture, ii) stored water in

surface storage like reservoirs, tanks, ponds, ooranies, temple tanks, and in

open wells etc., iii) groundwater in sub surface, iv) sea water and v) waste

water like sewage and effluent. Depending upon the rainfall, its intensities,

and frequencies, an area becomes drought or flood affected. Land or the soil

acts as storage for all the water. Land being the major non-renewable natural

resource is inelastic in nature. There is lot of pressure on the land due to the

increasing population from the agricultural, industrial and housing sectors. On

the other hand, the land is subjected to soil erosion and land degradation

problem due to rain or wind action and faulty cultivation practices resulting in

loss of topsoil, which is the place where all nutrients are available. This leads

to poor yields, uneconomic returns, reservoir sedimentation, and reduction in

storage capacity, reduction in ayacut area, and shutdown of hydel power

stations, ecological imbalance, environmental pollution, droughts and floods.

Hence the conservation, development and management of the land resources

which ensures the physical and chemical and bio-logical health of soil profile

is of prime importance and also a sine qua non for water resources

management, right from soil moisture conservation to flood control.

In a predominantly agricultural system, the objective of improving the

productivity, profitability and prosperity of the farmers and achieving

agricultural development on an ecologically sustainable basis can be attained

only when conservation, development and management of the land and water

resources are assured. As watersheds support the entire dryland

agriculture/horticulture and also remain the catchments for tanks and

reservoirs, their health is essential for development. The strength of the

watershed development programmes will largely determine the growth in

agriculture.

Status of Land and Water use in Tamil Nadu

· The total geographical area in Tamil Nadu is 130 L.ha. The land

utilization pattern for the last ten years is set out in the Table below.454 9.4 Soil and Water Conservation

Classification

Total area in

L.ha.

(Average

For Ten years -

1990’s)

% of

total area

1. Forests 21.44 16.49

2. Barren and uncultivable land 4.95 3.81

3. Land put to non agricultural use 19.07 14.67

4. Cultivable waste 3.25 2.50

5. Permanent pastures and other grazing lands 1.23 0.95

6. Land under miscellaneous tree crops and groves

not included in net area sown. 2.31 1.78

7. Current fallows 10.57 8.13

8. Other fallows lands 10.93 8.41

9. Net area sown 56.32 43.33

10.Total Geographical area 129.98 100

11. Area sown more than once 10.97

12. Gross cropped area 67.29

13. Area under food crops 46.46

14.Area under non-crops 20.83

15.Cropping Intensity 119.46

· The area under forest represents only 17.56% of total area against the

normal prescribed level of 33% (required for a sound ecological

system).

· Wasteland is nearly 22 L.ha.

· An area of 50.66 L.ha. is subjected to various degrees of soil erosion

and land degradation. (Area under rainfed agriculture – 24.92 L.ha.,

cultivable waste - 3.49 L.ha., fallow land 22.25 L.ha.). Almost the

entire land under rain fed agriculture is subjected to sheet and gully

erosion.

Table 1

The land degradation profile of the state

Sl.

No.

Wasteland category Area (ha.) %

1 Gullied and /or Ravenous 22546.8 0.93

2 Upland with or with out scrub 870500.7 36.00

3 Water logged and marshy land 44818.3 1.85

4 Land affected Salinity/alkalinity 286517.8 11.85

5 Shifting cultivation area 53.0 Negligible

6 Under utilized/ degraded notified

forest land

888376.7 36.74

7 Degraded pastures/grazing land 17560.0 0.73

8 Degraded land under plantation 54413.3 2.25

9 Sands- Desert /Coastal 72390.4 2.99

10 Mining/Industrial wastelands 16246.5 0.69

11 Barren Rocky/Stony waste/sheet

rock area

110803.0 4.58

12 Steep sloping area 33541.5 1.39

13 Snow covered area 0.0 0.00

Total 2417768.0 100.00

Source: National Remote Sensing Agency Survey Report9.4 Soil and Water Conservation 455

· It is estimated that 1.06 L.ha is under saline lands and 1.96 L.ha under

alkali lands in Tamil Nadu.

o The soil erosion by wind is prevalent in Cumbum Valley on the

Eastern side of the Western Ghats in some taluks of Tirunelveli and

Thoothukudi districts and Coastal areas of Ramanathapuram

district.

o Nearly 27 L.ha. is block soil. The inherent problem of erosion of

block soils has to be controlled by providing drainage system and

introducing soil conservation practices.

o The problem of sedimentation in reservoirs is fairly serious since

the silt deposited or reservoirs or tanks decreases the capacity of

the reservoirs.

Rainfall-Tamil Nadu receives an annual rainfall of 946.9 mm. The

season wise rainfall is as below:

South West Monsoon 308.6 mm

North East Monsoon 449.0 mm

Cold Weather period 45.4 mm

Hot Weather period 143.9 mm

Area under Irrigation - An area of 29.45 L.ha. is irrigated as against

55.81 L.ha. of net area sown (1997-98). An area of 35.19 L.ha. is irrigated

more than once resulting in 119 % of irrigation intensity. The irrigation

intensity has been declining and it has come down from 133 % in 1979-80 to

119%. The peak level of net area irrigated source wise and the area irrigated

in 1997-98 is furnished below.

( Lakh hectares)

Sl.

No.

Source Peak level Net area

irrigated

%

1 Canal 9.42(1972-73) 8.38 28.5

2 Tanks 9.90(1996-97) 6.75 22.9

3 Wells 14.10(1997-98) 14.13 48.0

4 Others 0.76(1979-80) 0.19 0.6

Total Net Area Irrigated 29.84(1979-80) 29.45 100

An area of 52% of the net area sown is irrigated. There has been a

sizable expansion in creation of irrigation potential and the net area irrigated

has risen from 21.16 L.ha. in 1950 to 29.45 L.ha. in 1997-98. The poor

irrigation intensity indicates that much of the potential created has gone for

stabilization rather than expansion of the area. Among irrigation sources,

wells irrigate 48% of the total area while canals irrigate 29% and tanks 22.9%.

Years back each of these sources were contributing 33 1/3% and the present

pattern shows that the ground water sources are being tapped fast and the

commandability of the tank irrigation is on the decrease due to siltation and

encroachment of the tank foreshore. It has to be construed that to sustain the 456 9.4 Soil and Water Conservation

existing irrigation potentials the watersheds / catchments have to be

adequately taken care.

A reduction in the huge run off losses from the watersheds will

automatically mean that more water will become available for retention as soil

moisture or as ground water. More soil moisture will support more permanent

vegetation in the form of trees and grasses and make rainfed agriculture more

productive. The enhanced recharge of ground water will revive natural

springs and rejuvenate the dried up well and tube well irrigation. Reduced run

off losses will also save a great deal of topsoil from erosion and consequent

sedimentation of tanks and reservoirs and moderate the incidence as well as

the severity of floods.

Soil and Water Conservation in Tamil Nadu – Tamil Nadu was one

of the pioneer States, which has sponsored and implemented soil

conservation programmes in agricultural lands from 1949. Before initiating

soil conservation measures, field trials in Agricultural Research stations were

conducted for over fifteen years since 1934. Soil Conservation Schemes

were launched as part of Famine Relief programme in 1949. Conservation of

soil moisture, gully control, and generation of employment to rural people

were the prime objectives of earlier programmes. In 1959 wind erosion

control measures were initiated in Bodinaickanur area of then composite

Madurai district to control wind erosion hazards. In 1967, a pilot water

management project was implemented as part of soil and water conservation

in Siddhamalli village of Cauvery delta, that won the appreciation of the

Irrigation Commission (1972), which recommended such projects for the

whole country. In 1969 water management works were initiated in Sathanur

Command area. All water management works in command area are taken up

now under the Command Area Development from the Sixth Five Year Plan.

Soil Conservation in tribal areas was taken up from 1976. In 1978, Ravine

Reclamation scheme was taken up in South Arcot and North Arcot districts.

In 1979, wind erosion control measures were taken up in Tirunelveli district.

The scheme for Water conservation and harvesting technology and Energy

Plantation in degraded lands were few pilot projects executed by Agricultural

Engineering Department successfully.

A Remote Sensing Cell created as part of Western Ghats

Development Programme (1985) now caters to the needs of many user

departments in Watershed delineation and, assessment of Land and Water

Resources. Following the success of the wind erosion control programme in

Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts, DANIDA came forward to assist a larger

programme. The Comprehensive Watershed Development Programme in

Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi phase I, Phase II and the Comprehensive Watershed

Development Programme in composite Ramanathapuram district are

externally aided projects with DANIDA assistance implemented by Agricultural

Engineering Department.

The implementation of integrated Watershed Development

Programmes is necessary to

a) conserve, develop and manage Soil and Water Resources,

b) improve productivity of rainfed agriculture including black soil areas,9.4 Soil and Water Conservation 457

c) promote water harvesting for recharge of irrigation and drinking water

wells,

d) reclaim saline and alkali soils, and

e) reduce siltation of reservoirs.

Watershed development should bring out a holistic development and

lead to a sustainable livelihood system and therefore each watershed

becomes important on one point or the other.

Ninth Plan Review

The Ninth Plan was formulated with objectives of Soil and water

conservation through reclamation of problem soil and improvement through

integrated management., Soil and moisture conservation through watershed

management, Soil health care, Protection of rivers and catchments and

Promotion of peoples participation.

Financial progress

Table 2

Financial progress made during the Ninth Plan

Financial progress

(Rs. in crores)

Sl.

No.

Scheme

Outlay Expenditure

1

Agricultural Engineering Dept.

Soil Conservation in hills and plains 65.50 140.98

2 Soil Conservation in Tribal areas 3.70 4.21

3 Soil Conservation in WGDP 17.00 16.05

4 Soil Conservation in HADP 22.30 22.29

5 Soil Conservation in Mettur Stanley --- 4.48

6 Soil Conservation in Vaigai --- 1.55

7 New schemes 91.75 --

8 Soil Conservation in Kundha and lower

Bhavani (Centrally Sponsored Scheme)

-- 6.59

9 Wasteland Development -- 31.06

Total-Agrl.Engineering 200.25 199.46

1 Agriculture Department

Soil Survey and Land use Organsation

17.90*+

9.75 27.83

2 National Watershed Development Programme

for Rainfed Agriculture -- 19.72#

Total-Agriculture 17.90*

+9.75

47.69

Grand Total-Agri+ Agrl.Eng 227.90 247.15

* Provision under Crop husbandry sector.

# Earlier it was 100 % centrally sponsored scheme, now it is shared between state and

centre.

While Soil and water conservation programme is implemented by

Agricultural Engineering Department, Soil Survey and soil Testing schemes

are implemented by Agriculture Department.

Under this sector as against the overall outlay of Rs. 227.90 crores, an

amount of Rs. 247.15 crores was spent during the Ninth Plan. Out of which,458 9.4 Soil and Water Conservation

Agriculture Department spent Rs. 47.69 crores as against the outlay of

Rs. 27.65 crores and Agricultural Engineering Department spent Rs. 99.46

crores as against the provision of Rs. 200.25 crores.

Physical Progress

Table 3

Physical progress made during the Ninth Plan

Sl.

No.

Scheme Physical progress (L.ha)

Target Achievement

1

I. Agri. Engineering Dept.

Soil Conservation in hills and plains 4.00 3.87

2 Soil Conservation in Tribal areas 0.02 0.033

3 Comprehensive Watershed Development 0.09 0.09

4 Soil Conservation in WGDP 0.04 0.04

5 Soil Conservation in HADP 0.15 0.15

6. Soil Conservation in Kundha and lower

Bhavani (Centrally Sponsored Scheme)

0.03 0.03

The physical targets were achieved in almost all schemes except under

soil conservation in hills and plains.

Constraints and Shortcomings

The Soil Conservation programmes were target-driven requiring

procedures to be completed in scheduled time with the result the officials

concerned could not integrate themselves with the community. There was no

training component for the beneficiaries. The beneficiary participation was

confined to preparation of action plans and no stakeholder contribution was

envisaged resulting in lack of involvement. An aberration in Soil Conservation

works was the vastly differential fund allocation per hectare by different

agencies: State government – Rs. 1500/-: Central Government Rs. 6000/-: In

externally assisted Comprehensive Watershed Development Programme -

Rs. 12,500/-. The allotment of funds per hectare by the State Government

was inadequate to carryout water harvesting works needed to improve the

groundwater recharge.

Tenth Five Year Plan

Land and water conservation is the basic responsibility of Agricultural

Engineering Department. The Mission mode approach of the Government is

to accomplish the goals of saving every drop of rain, providing adequate water

for agriculture and conservation of life support system – Land and Water

Resources through watershed management and irrigation water management

strategies.

New approaches and Strategies and Goals for Development

Mission for land and water conservation will be actualized through

· Micro watershed approach

· Water Budgeting

· Participatory approach9.4 Soil and Water Conservation 459

· Micro Watershed Development Work Plan

· Special attention for problem soils

· Convergence and Synergy of schemes and

· Monitoring and Evaluation.

This new approach has emerged from the lessons learnt from the

DANIDA assisted ‘Comprehensive Watershed Development Project’ and

based on the past experience in the implementation of soil conservation

programmes.

Micro Watershed Approach and Development Plan

The State has been delineated into 33 river watersheds, which feed to

main rivers and tributaries. These are further delineated into macro

watersheds based on streams and large nallahs. These macro watersheds

are suitably divided into sub-watersheds based on minor streams and small

tributaries. The sub-watersheds are further divided into micro watersheds,

which would respond to various resources management treatment more

efficiently. In order to facilitate comprehensive water budgeting, the mini

watershed of 5000 ha would be the optimum area to be taken up for

treatment. The approach will incorporate measures for soil moisture

conservation, soil erosion control, run off harvesting and rainwater harvesting

and individual based farm developments. The plan will be prepared in

consultation with the watershed committees, line departments and Regional

Research Stations of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.

The ultimate objective of the watershed development is to make the

society living in the watershed self-sustaining, through creation of

complementary assets that can contribute to concatenation of benefits, so that

their standard of living is improved. Water budgeting will alleviate the

hydrological poverty of the watershed.

The project will follow the participatory approach, actively involving

all sections of the community at every stage with preference to women and

other vulnerable groups in the society. This will facilitate sustainability by

creating a feeling of ownership for resources created with project assistance.

It will also demonstrate effective land use practices on common and private

land. Implicit in this approach will be sharing of costs and benefits by

beneficiaries. The role of project staff will be to provide technical guidance

and facilitate rather than implement. Hence the staff will work towards

capacity building of village level institutions to enable them to manage their

resources. The project will adopt low cost and farmer friendly interventions

directed towards insitu conservation of soil and water. A holistic farming

systems approach that suits the farm unit/ farming household will be followed.

The intention is to demonstrate how appropriate low cost farming practice

(land based and household based including animal husbandry and

horticulture interventions) and soil and moisture conservation techniques can

improve the condition of landless, marginal and small farmers under dry land

condition.

The Tenth Plan will focus special attention to Saline and alkaline

soils. Black soil, which spreads over an extent of 27 L.ha., will receive460 9.4 Soil and Water Conservation

specific attention through focussed research and development. Micro

watershed work plans for black soil areas will be developed to alleviate the

two extreme problems of drainage and moisture stress.

Convergence and Synergy - Apart from the State Plan support, the

micro water shed plan will avail funds from Employment Assurance Scheme,

(EAS) Swarna Jayanthi Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) and the Central

Ground Water Board. The stockholder’s contribution is also expected to

sustain their interest in maintaining the assets. It may be worthwhile to

consider prescribing a farmers’ contribution ranging from 10 to 25 %

depending on the status of farmers instead of present system of providing

loan cum subsidy.

Monitoring and Evaluation - It is proposed to monitor the performance

of the micro watersheds development programme in terms of bio-physical and

economic indicators like reduction in rainwater loss and sediment, yield,

augmentation of ground and surface water resources, change in cropping

pattern, cropping intensity and productivity, grass and fodder production, fuel

production and improvement of soil fertility - sharing of usufruct.

Water Security- Ensuring adequate water for agriculture, industry and

eco-system maintenance besides providing safe drinking water, enhancing

water sources through percolation ponds and other water recharge structure

in Tamil Nadu, rainwater harvesting for all households, development and

popularization of appropriate rainwater harvesting technologies in line with the

topography of the specific region concerned are the elements in “Water

Security”, one of the points in the Chief Minister’s 15 point programme.

The failure of monsoon over a period of years and indiscriminate

exploitation of groundwater have led to the scarcity of water for drinking and

agriculture. This situation is due to the improper maintenance of irrigation

tanks, which have been the asset in providing irrigation for crops and also due

to ineffective water management and conservation practices.

In fact, the water table has been very rapidly sinking in Tamil Nadu.

This problem is due to over exploitation of ground water at a rate much faster

than the natural recharge without creating an environment to facilitate

rainwater percolation to improve recharge. The forest destruction has

accentuated the problem of reduced percolation of rainwater.

Hydrologically over 95% of rainwater must percolate into the subsoil

system in order to keep all the drainage system (including river system) full of

water round the year. Break in this cycle decreases water percolation into soil

system. Inadequate impounding of water and improving soil conservation

have further added to the ground water scarcity. Today nearly 65% of

rainwater in Tamil Nadu runs off into sea.

Though the problem of water scarcity may appear to be complex, the

solution lies in capturing water in micro watersheds, i.e. insitu rainwater

harvesting and conservation through a people’s programme together with

capacity building among people by Government and dovetailing the existing

programmes and funding on a project cum mission mode drawing lessons

from the success stories of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat apart9.4 Soil and Water Conservation 461

from those within the State. The strategies in the policy for sustainable water

management would include interventions such as

· Rainwater harvesting for ground water recharge to stablise drinking

water and irrigation wells in the dry land areas.

· Water harvesting structures in canal irrigated areas to improve the

ground water percolation.

· Rehabilitation of irrigation tanks especially rainfed tanks through

Kudimaramath.

· Renovation of Village Ponds, Ooranies, Temple Tanks, and other

traditional storages through Kudimaramath.

· Scientific use of water in canal irrigated areas and reduction of water

loss.

· Introduction of water saving irrigation methods like Drip and Sprinkler

irrigation on a large scale.

· Construction of community wells to promote conjunctive use of surface

and ground water.

Water Conservation and rainwater harvesting is most effective when

taken up as part of watershed management. The watershed being a

hydrological unit, an intervention to store rainwater or moderate the runoff

responds more favourably. Watershed management involves soil and water

conservation efforts integrated with appropriate cropping pattern, proper

agricultural practices combined with animal husbandry as a community effort

to reap maximum economical gain.

Rainwater harvesting can be done in village level percolation ponds/

tanks, individual farm ponds. Check dams along the gullies, contour trenches,

planting of vettiver grasses along contours, afforestation of waste, non/low

productive land, raising horticultural crops etc. will increase percolation of

water into the subsoil system, reduce surface runoff, increase time for water

to remain on land, reduce soil erosion, recharge groundwater and improve

water availability throughout the year. Judicious and rational use of water

coupled with appropriate cropping pattern, equitable distribution of water and

adoption of integrated agricultural practices (including animal husbandry) can

turn drought areas into oasis.

The success of the programme is in direct proportion to the extent of

participation of people in the process. Maintenance is a key factor for

continued sustenance of an improved water body. Participation by people

from the beginning in this major step of water resources management would

ensure the maintenance of these bodies. What is required is a sustained

movement with high degree of people’s participation in the process of

improving/ developing their water sources and finally to managing the

resources. The role of the Government has to be one of the facilitator giving

technical and other support.

Insitu water conservation throughout the State preferably on watershed

management approach has become inevitable for Tamil Nadu given the

rapidly sinking groundwater and resultant water scarcity even during normal462 9.4 Soil and Water Conservation

monsoon. Watershed management will further help in improving the

economic condition of the people involved particularly in agriculture. The

approach will succeed only if it is entirely managed and operated by the

people. Water management, which requires to become a people’s movement

and continuous support from Government, will ensure water security for the

State and economic independence of the people in future.

Tenth Five-Year Plan Programmes

Agricultural Engineering Department

1. Soil Conservation in Hills and Plains (Rs. 85.46 crores)

The objective of the scheme is to prevent soil erosion, improve soil

moisture and create water-harvesting facilities in watersheds predominantly

under rainfed agriculture. An area of 10.50 L.ha. is yet to be covered in the

State. Soil and Water Conservation works will be taken up on Micro

watershed basis in an area of 2.5 L.ha. at a cost of Rs. 85.46 crores.

2. Soil Conservation in Tribal Areas (Rs. 5.11 crores)

The scheme aims to increase the land productivity by conserving the

soil, improving the water holding capacity and improving the land use

eventually to improve the economic status of the tribal farmers so as to take

them above the poverty line. Integrated development of the tribal pockets will

be taken up with multi sector approach in Jawadhu hills (Vellore district),

Kalrayan hills (Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram districts), Yercaud hills (Salem

district), Sitheri hills ( Dharmapuri district), Kolli hills (Nammakal district), and

Pachamalai (Trichy district) . This programme provides employment to the

local people and helps them to bring the areas treated under cultivation. Land

levelling, construction of contour stone walls and check dams will be taken up

in an area of 3000 hectares during the Tenth Plan period at a cost of

Rs. 5.11crores.

3. Scheme for Reclamation of Alkali Soils (Rs. 96 crores)

Based on the guidelines issued by the Department of Agriculture and

Cooperation, Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India, it is proposed to

cover an area of 50,000 hectares over the period of 5 years from 2002-07.

The activities proposed are survey of project area, preparation of

implementation plans, on farm development, boring and installation of

pumpsets, and application of soil amendment, organic manures etc. An area

of 50,000 ha will be covered at a cost of Rs. 96 crores.

4. Soil Conservation in the Catchment Area of Kundah and Lower Bhavani

River Valley Project and Vaigai catchment .(Rs. 3.20 crores)

The objective of the scheme is to arrest the siltation of the multi

purpose reservoirs in Vaigai catchment. The All India Soil and Land Use

Survey Organization has identified priority watersheds where the works are to

be taken up. During the Tenth Plan period, an area of 2,000 hectares will be

covered at a cost of Rs. 3.20 crores.9.4 Soil and Water Conservation 463

5. Participatory Watershed Development Project (Rs. 203.85 crores-EAP

proposed)

The project will be implemented in selected watersheds throughout the

State. The Watersheds will be prioritised based on the level of degradation

and its potentialities. The project will follow the participatory approach

involving all sections of the community at every stage, viz., planning,

implementation, maintenance, monitoring and future benefit sharing. This will

facilitate sustainability by creating a feeling of ownership for resources created

with project assistance. Implicit in this approach will be sharing of cost and

benefit by beneficiaries. Village Development Associations will be formed for

the purpose. Socio economic survey will be conducted through PRA to

assess the available resources and problems and requirements for

developing watershed and participatory watershed plan will be prepared by

the Village Development Association under the technical guidance of the

project staff. Activities like nursery, watering, watch and ward will be carried

out by the beneficiaries themselves. The project components include insitu

moisture conservation (disc ploughing), agro forestry / medicinal / herbal /

energy plantation, bore wells, contour bunds with vegetative hedges, gully

treatment, desilting irrigation tanks, village ponds, and ooranies, training of

beneficiaries / staff, crop component etc. An area of 3 L.ha. will be covered at

a cost of Rs. 203.85 crores. It is proposed to pose the project for External

funding. The ongoing programmes can be merged with this project.

6. Micro Watershed based Geographical Information System (GIS) for Soil

Conservation for Planning and Monitoring and Evaluation (Rs. 1.50 crores)

Agricultural Engineering Department is already having facilities for

remote sensing, which can be upgraded / augmented. To build up a database

of all available resources in every watershed and to incorporate developments

taking place a micro watershed based GIS will be created for each project

area. A water resources audit and watershed auditing to identify old works

under various programme will be carried out incorporating the development

works already completed so that a Comprehensive data base will be available

to assist planning, monitoring and evaluation. This would cost Rs. 1.50 crores

during the Tenth Plan period.

Agriculture Department

Ongoing Schemes

The following ongoing schemes will be continued during the Tenth Five

Year Plan also:

1. Soil and Land Use Organisation (Rs. 2.92 crores)

The objective of the scheme is preparation of soil resources inventory

including the nature of soil occurring in the area, their morphological, physical

and chemical characteristics through field studies and laboratory analysis,

classification according to internationally recognized system of soil classification and mapping their extent on standard topographic base and finally

interpreting it for variety of uses. Based on the details generated through

reconnaissance soil survey, district wise soil atlases are printed giving general

information of the district's soil types, land capabilities, irrigability, production464 9.4 Soil and Water Conservation

potentials etc. The above survey is being taken up through the 4 soil survey

units at Coimbatore, Thanjavur, Vellore and Tirunelveli. This programme will

be implemented with an outlay of Rs. 2.92 crores.

2. Soil Testing Laboratories and Mobile Soil Testing Laboratories

(Rs. 17.60 crores)

The Department of Agriculture, which is having a network of field staff

at village level, helps farmers in their area to take soil samples and get them

analysed through these laboratories, which were established in different

districts of the State. Nineteen such Soil Testing Laboratories are functioning

in different districts. Besides these laboratories, 16 Mobile Soil Testing

Laboratories are also providing this service at farmers’ doorsteps, i.e. in

villages on a notified date enabling the farmers to get an on- the- spot

analysis and advice on their soil. These Soil Testing Laboratories also help

farmers in suggesting suitable reclamatory measures for the problem soils,

preparing village level fertility indices and assessing the quality of irrigation

water.

A sum of Rs. 7.42 crores for Soil Testing Laboratories and Rs. 10.18

crores for Mobile soil Testing Laboratories is provided for the Tenth Plan

period towards the cost of staff, contingencies, cost of analytical chemicals,

equipments etc.

3. Preparation and Distribution of Bio Fertilizer Packets (Rs. 12.70 crores)

Though fertilizers are readymade artificial means of supplying essential

nutrients for boosting crop production, their continuous and indiscriminate use

makes the soils sterile and results in degradation of soil potential. Hence the

use of different types of organic manures, bio-fertilizers, etc, has an important

role as part of Integrated Nutrient Management Package. In view of nonavailability of adequate quantity of organic manure, bio-fertilizers using

microorganisms to fix atmospheric nitrogen as a result of technology

development in modern agriculture came in handy.

A sum of Rs. 12.70 crores is provided for Tenth Plan towards the cost

of staff and working expenses for production of Bacterial culture.

4.Central Control Laboratory (Rs. 2.29 crores)

The Central Control Laboratory functioning at Kudumianmalai has to

supervise and guide the functioning of Soil Testing Laboratories. This

laboratory will also analyse the check samples drawn from other laboratories

so as to correlate the results and ensure the correctness of the procedures

adopted. This serves to strengthen the quality control of fertilizers and also

serves as a watchdog on quality parameters. An amount of Rs. 2.29 crores is

provided for this scheme.

5.Saline And Alkaline Land Reclamation (Rs. 6.97 crores)

It has been programmed to reclaim 1600 hectares of problem soil in

the districts of Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Vellore,

Thiruvannamalai, Salem and Namakkal. An amount of Rs. 6.97 crores is

provided for this scheme.

The scheme wise outlay and physical targets for the Tenth Five Year

Plan are set out in Annexures I & II. 9.4 Soil and Water Conservation 465

Annexure – I

Tenth Five Year Plan Outlay- Soil and Water Conservation

Name of scheme

Financial

outlay

(Rs. in

crores)

Agricultural Engineering Dept.

Ongoing Schemes

1. Soil and Water Conservation on watershed basis 85.46

2. Soil Conservation in Tribal Areas 5.11

3. Soil Conservation in Vaigai River Valley 3.20

Total- Ongoing schemes 93.77

New Schemes:

1 Reclamation of Alkali Soils 96.00

2. Participatory Watershed Development Project 203.85

3 Micro watershed based GIS 1.50

Total- New Schemes 301.35

Total –Agricultural Engineering Dept. 395.12

II Agriculture Department:

1.Soil Survey and Land use organization 2.92

2. Soil Test Labs 7.42

3.Mobile Soil Testing Lab 10.18

4. Preparation of BC packs 12.70

5. Central Control Lab 2.29

6.Saline and Alkaline Land Reclamation 6.97

Total – Agriculture Department (Ongoing Schemes) 42.48

Grand Total 437.60

Annexure – II

Tenth Five Year Plan Physical Target- Soil and Water Conservation

Details of scheme

Physical

programme

‘000’ ha

Agricultural Engineering Dept.

1. Soil and Water Conservation on watershed basis 250.00

2. Soil Conservation in Tribal Areas 3.00

3. Soil Conservation in Vaigai River Valley 2.00

Total- Ongoing schemes

New Schemes:

1 Reclamation of Alkali Soils 50.00

2. Participatory Watershed Development Project 300.0

ater is the elixir of life, a precious gift of nature

to mankind and millions of other species living

on the earth. It is fast becoming a scare

commodity in most part of the world. Water resources

comprising of surface water (river and lakes), ground water

and marine and coastal waters, support all living things

including human beings. Though water is available in the

6 3

universe in huge quantity in the order of 1400 x 10 km , only

3% of the waters in the universe is fresh water. Among the

fresh waters, only about 5% of them or 0.15% of the total

world waters are readily available for beneficial use. The

3

total water resources available in India is 1850 km , which is

1

roughly 4% of the world's fresh water resources .

Tamil Nadu accounts for 4 per cent of the land

area and 6 per cent of the population, but only 3 per cent of

the water resources of the country. Most of Tamil Nadu is

located in the rain shadow region of the Western Ghats and

hence receives limited rainfall from the south-west

2

monsoon.

W

28

3 Water Resources

3.2. Rainfall

The State gets relatively more rainfall during north

east monsoon, especially, in the coastal regions. The normal

rainfall in south west and north east monsoon is around 322

mm and 470 mm which is lower than the National normal

rainfall of 1250 mm. Similarly, the per capita water

availability of the State is 800 cubic meters which is lower

3

than the National average of 2300 cubic meters.

3

Fig 3.1 South West Monsoon

5. 923

4. 581

5. 133

5. 633

5. 133

6. 053

South West Monsoon (MM) Normal

Actual

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05

North East Monsoon (MM)

Normal

Actual

2002-03 2003-04 2004-05

480

460

440

420

400

380

360

1. 864

1. 704

6. 464

1. 304

6. 464

2. 274

3

Fig 3.2 North East Monsoon

3.3 Surface water resources of Tamil Nadu

3

The total surface water potential of the state is 36 km

1

or 24864 M cum. There are 17 major river basins in the State

with 61 reservoirs and about 41,948 tanks. Of the annual

water potential of 46540 million cubic metres (MCM),

surface flows account for about half. Most of the surface

water has already been tapped, primarily for irrigation

which is the largest user. There are about 24 lakh hectares are

irrigated by surface water through major, medium and minor

schemes. The utilisation of surface water for irrigation is

2

about 90 percent.

3.4 Ground Water resources of Tamil Nadu

The utilisable groundwater recharge is 22,423 MCM

The current level of utilisation expressed as net ground water

draft of 13.558 MCM is about 60 percent of the available

recharge, while 8875 MCM (40 percent) is the balance

available for use. Over the last five years, the percentage of

safe blocks has declined from 35.6 per cent to 25.2 percent

while the semi-critical blocks have gone up by a similar

percentage. Over-exploitation has already occurred in more

than a third of the blocks (35.8 percent) while eight blocks

(2 percent) have turned saline. The water level data reveals

that the depth of the wells range from an average of 0.93

metres in Pudukottai district to 43.43 metres in Erode.

According to the Central Groundwater Board, there has been

a general decline in groundwater level in 2003 due to the

complete desaturation of shallow aquifers. There has been a

s ecr uos eR ret a W

Successful water conservation & tree planting in Tamil Nadu village

In an article in The Hindu , Febr. 12, 2009  about a visit to Kongathiraiyanpatti village (40 km from Pudukottai in Tamil Nadu, India), M.J. Prabu reports on how water conservation along with tree planting helped farmers rebuild their lives and preventthem from migrating to towns.

“We noticed vast areas of land left fallow for want of water. The area in and around the village (about 500 acres) was totally dry, the surface soil hard and trees literally absent. During summer (May-June) we could not find even a single tree to sit under for shade,” says Mrs. J. Poppy from Kudumbam, a rural development organisation and part of the Tamil Nadu LEISA Network. The local administration did not do anything and farmers started to leave their lands and migrate in search of work.

Kudumbam representatives convinced the villagers of the importance of tree growing and the need for conserving water. Groups of villagers (50 % women, 50 % men) were formed who were entrusted with the task to get the whole village involved in the watershed implementation project. In about 5-6 years, the village transformed from a dry barren land to a more productive zone.