Commendable initiative

Sir, - It is indeed heartening to read that the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, has announced the launching of a major wasteland reclamation project - covering 20 lakh hectares in select districts during the first phase.

That her announcement was made at a national forum like the CII conference is quite significant in terms of content, purpose, need and direction of wasteland development and reclamation, which has vast socio-economic development potential. This had hitherto been neglected by both the Centre and the States, with an estimated 230 million wasteland area spread over the country.

The salient features of the project, as announced by Ms. Jayalalithaa, are not only appealing but pragmatic and achievable, with the plan targetting and promoting horticultural farms, extending from 200 to 1000 hectares, digging borewells to a depth of 90 metres in each farm and adoption of drip irrigation in each of the hectares of reclaimed wasteland.

The initiative should evoke unreserved commendation and support from the Centre which should extend all support to the project. The Centre can consider special financial grants to Tamil Nadu.

G. Ranganathan,

Bangalore

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Opinion
Previous : Health deteriorates
Next     : Let hearts take over