Desilting of water bodies and irrigation channels will help with flood control during periods of heavy rainfall. (Representational image)
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
As part of the preparedness for the northeast monsoon, the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department will begin rejuvenation of 10,185 irrigation channels and 809 ponds across Tamil Nadu, starting on Monday (August 17, 2026).
The rejuvenation works will be taken up under the Viksit Bharat – Gramin Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) scheme. According to sources, desilting of water bodies and irrigation channels ahead of the northeast monsoon will help store rainwater to its capacity, raise the groundwater table and improve irrigation facilities for agriculture. Further, it will help flood control during periods of heavy rainfall.
These works are set to commence on Monday (August 17, 2026) in 37 districts, excluding Chennai, at an estimated cost of ₹507.92 crore. Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources N. Anand is scheduled to inaugurate the works. The desilting works will be launched by Ministers and MLAs in their respective rural areas in the coming days, sources added.
Mr. Anand told The Hindu that the desilting of ponds, ooranis, and channels would be taken up after due measurement by surveyors. The department will coordinate with farmers, panchyat representatives, and volunteering agencies that work with channels and water bodies and ensure the work is done properly. The payment will be done only after the work is completed. “At the same time, since in some places persons with disabilities are also part of the VB- G RAM G, we will ensure that they are not disturbed in any manner. The work will be completed by September-end, when the monsoon is likely to begin,” he said.
Since the entire work cannot be done manually, we have sought corporate social responsibility funds for earth movers and other machinery. The Minister, who is also TVK party general secretary, said party workers will also take part in the efforts to desilt and clear bushes from the channels. “Anyone willing to volunteer can join in the efforts.”
Farmers with whom The Hindu spoke, said though this was a welcome idea, VB-G RAM G workers alone would not be able to complete the work on their own. “In some villages, especially in the Delta districts, farmers come together to desilt channels. In such cases, the government’s desilting work can be clubbed with ours to make it more effective,” said Ravichandran, a farmer of Nannilam.
A total of 2,514 channels and 53 ooranies are to be desilted in Thanjavur alone, and 816 channels in Thoothukudi, 625 in Krishnagiri, and 608 in Villupuram channels are also to be desilted. Ramanathapuram has the highest number of ponds to be desilted with 137, followed by Dindigul with 109 and Madurai with 70.
Another farmer of Tiruvallur said the workers with VB-G RAM G in their areas were not physically fit to perform desilting work. “It will only be a waste of time, energy, and efforts. We have seen these people spending time simply sitting under trees and collecting their wages after doing nothing,” he alleged.
Published – August 16, 2026 01:09 pm IST
