Date:24/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/24/stories/2007072457310600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Pudukottai villages getting amenities

Staff Reporter

PUDUKOTTAI: The implementation of ‘cluster development programme’ in eight villages in the district is in full swing to provide infrastructure to the beneficiaries of the ‘Free Two Acre Land’ scheme.

This facility is being provided at sites where a compact stretch of land is assigned to a group of landless agricultural labourers in a village.

While the Agricultural Engineering department digs a deep borewell, the Agriculture department conducts soil tests and recommends the crop.

The Horticulture department supplies the saplings.

In line with cluster development norms, a total of 170 beneficiaries of these villages have formed ‘irrigation committees’ to ensure equitable sharing of waters.

The Agricultural Engineering department dug the first bore-well in the district at a depth of 102 metre (about 300 feet) in Meladhaniyam village in Ponnamaravathy block at a cost of Rs.1.37 lakh.

Eight farmers of the Meladhaniyam cluster with 15.6 acre land will cultivate amla and sapota on five acre and a crop of their choice in the remaining area.

Work on other borewells will be taken up shortly at the clusters in Vellaipillaiyarpatti, Marudhoor, Chettipatti (all in Kundradarkovil block); Andanoor, Nodiyur (in Gandarvakottai); Kalabam in Karambakudi; and Melnilaivayal in Arimalam block.