Puducherry proposes to repair, renovate and restore 78 irrigation tanks

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry govt has proposed to repair, renovate and restore (RRR project) 78 irrigation tanks at Rs 496.73 crore in the Puducherry region under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) – Har Khet Ko Pani (HKKP) programme. The public works department (PWD), Puducherry, has prepared a detailed project report (DPR) and sent it to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for technical appraisal and necessary clearance, said a release from the directorate of information and publicity.

Over the passage of time, several tanks had reduced storage capacity due to the formation of silt, ageing irrigation structures, insufficient maintenance, and reduced surface water availability, affecting irrigation efficiency and groundwater recharge. The govt has identified 78 tanks -- 54 system tanks and 24 non-system tanks -- for restoration under the RRR project. It has proposed to allocate Rs 438.02 crore for system tanks and Rs 58.71 crore for non-system tanks, covering an irrigation ayacut of about 5,612.47 hectares and 858.18 hectares, respectively.

The proposal includes desilting tank beds, strengthening tank bunds, repairing and reconstructing sluices and surplus weirs, improving feeder canals and field channels, preventing soil erosion, launching efforts to recharge groundwater structures, along with provisions such as walkways, benches and lighting around selected water bodies.

The govt plans to complete the project in two years. The project is expected to enhance water storage capacity, recharge groundwater, irrigation reliability and agricultural productivity, while also improving flood management and creating opportunities for community spaces around restored water bodies. Through this initiative, the Puducherry govt aims to strengthen sustainable water resource management and support long-term agricultural resilience in the region.

The govt launched the Tank Rehabilitation Project-Puducherry (TRPP) in 1998 with funding from the European Union (EU) to clear encroachments in 84 tanks in coordination with the water users’ forums. The tanks were desilted and restored to their original water holding capacity, and in most cases, doubled their water holding capacities.