Date:07/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/07/stories/2008080760980600.htm

Tamil Nadu

Model watershed to be established

Staff Reporter

Virudhunagar Collector V. Chandrasekaran inaugurates works

VIRUDHUNAGAR: A model watershed would be established on 25 acres in Sivakasi block to disseminate information on watershed programme being implemented in the district.

The Virudhunagar Collector, V. Chandrasekaran, inaugurated the works, established at a cost of Rs. 20.48 lakh, at Sevaloor on Wednesday.

Seventy three watersheds were being implemented in Virudhunagar, Kariapatti, Aruppukottai, Sattur, Vembakottai, Sivakasi and Narikudi blocks under Drought Prone Areas Programme (DPAP).

Similarly, 10 watersheds were being implemented under the Integrated Wasteland Development Programme (IWDP) in Tiruchuchili, Rajapalayam and Srivilliputtur blocks.

The approximate extent of area of watershed was 5,000 hectares and unit cost per ha was Rs. 6,000.

A total of Rs. 30 lakh would be spent on the five-year project, the Collector said in a statement.

The district watershed advisory committee had decided to form the model watershed that would act as an on-farm training and production centre.

The farmers would have a glimpse of 100 kinds of development works like land development, earthen bunding, stone bunding, staggered trenches for conserving top soil at a single location. Desilting of ponds, ooranies, inlet supply channel, formation of farm ponds would be executed there, the Collector said.

Besides, they could be trained in plantation works like orchard, agro-forestry, social forestry, bio-fuel plantation, fodder tree plantation.

Non conventional energy sources, like solar power, bio-gas would be practised here. Production of vermicasting, coir pith compst, panchakaviya production would make the watershed self-sufficient in bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide production.

With a view to making the model watershed a self-sustained one, income generation activities such as vegetable seedlings production through mist chambers/poly green houses, vegetable cultivation, flower cultivation, forestry seedling production in poly bags, establishment of nursery for crafted fruit seedlings, mushroom cultivation, dairy would be taken up, he said.

SHGs to maintain it

The self-help group of women that would maintain the model watershed is expected to repay the initial investment of Rs.20.48 lakh made there to the District Rural Development Agency within five years.

After that, the net return from it would be shared between the Sevaloor panchayat and the SHG.

Every year 10,000 farmers and members of SHGs would be trained here.

The DRDA Project Officer, J. Sadasivam, the project economist, K. Ganesan, and Sevaloor panchayat president, Balasubramanian, were among those who were present.