Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi

7,762 farmers enlisted

TIRUCHI: About 7,762 farmers from Tiruchi district have been enrolled under the Centrally-sponsored Scheme for Artificial Recharge of Groundwater through dug wells in five select blocks in the district.

So far about Rs.28 lakh had been released as subsidy to 758 farmers, Collector T. Soundiah said in a press release. Tiruchi district has been sanctioned Rs.12 crore under the scheme.

The scheme is being implemented in Musiri, Thathaiengarpet, Thuraiyur, Uppliyapuram and Manapparai blocks in the district. A subsidy of Rs.4,000 will be given to small and marginal farmers owning less than five acres of land, while big farmers will get Rs.2,000.

The scheme would help farmers to stabilise their irrigational structures by building permanent structures for tapping rain water to recharge their wells. The scheme has been drawn up to overcome the problems caused by depletion in water table in the wake of excess extraction of underground water.

Farmers who wish to apply for the subsidy can approach the coordinators in the village administrative officers, he said.

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