Project to construct 1,000 ponds lunched in Thoothukudi to boost groundwater, agricultural production

Lok Sabha member from Thoothukudi Kanimozhi Karunanidhi emphasised the importance of farm ponds, stating that it would help increase the water table, especially in rainfed agricultural areas.

She said this at the inauguration of the construction of 1,000 farm ponds in Thoothukudi district, organised at Pillayarnatham village in Vilathikulam block on Saturday.

In April, Thoothukudi Collector K. Elambahavath had announced that efforts were under way to address water scarcity and declining production from rainfed agricultural lands.

At that time, he had said that around 1,500 farm ponds would be dug up on farm lands and urged farmers to register to avail the benefits of the project.

The initiative has been launched by district administration in partnership with the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes of multiple private companies. Accordingly, 1,000 farm ponds were being constructed across agricultural lands in Pudur, Kayathar, Vilathikulam, Kovilpatti, and Ottapidaram blocks.

Ms. Kanimozhi underscored that the agricultural production in Vilathikulam, Pudur, Kayathar, Ottapidaram, and Kovilpatti blocks had been severely affected due to low and unseasonal rain.

Pointing out that Thoothukudi is the third largest district in Tamil Nadu in maize cultivation, she said the district’s production capacity lagged behind State’s average. Attributing this to unseasonal rain, Ms. Kanimozhi urged farmers to make use of the project to ensure long-term irrigation benefits.

Recalling deliberations of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees (DISHA) meeting, she said the district’s crop yield was comparatively lower than others which led to the decision to establish farm ponds in rainfed regions.

Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister P. Geetha Jeevan, Thoothukudi Collector K. Elambahavath, and Vilathikulam MLA G.V. Markandayan were present.